Nigerian armless athlete rules the world

With both arms amputated, but with the zeal and dogged determination not to succumb, a Nigerian-born student of the Bellarmine College in the United States, has continued to stun the world with his masterful record-breaking 'flights' on the tracks; even without wings.

The Paralympic athlete, Vitalis Lanshima, who lost both arms in an accident at the age of 12, became the first Paralympic athlete to be recuited by an NCAA college from a foreign country to compete in the US.

Vitalis, who has both arms aputated above his elbows, has on his athletics scroll, the records of having done the 55 metres in a stunning time of 6.50 seconds. The athlete's specialist event is the 400 metres sprint, in which he carted home three gold medals at the Canadian Open and the the same number of gold medals at the British Open in year 2003.

The Nigerian amputee athlete of fortune, also has more than the above on his records shelf; he is the world's record holder in the 100 metres dash in the double arm amputee brackets; a feat he achieved in 2003. In year 2000, Vitalis wrested a double - shattering the world records in both the 200 and 400 metres sprints respectively.

Off the tracks, Vitalis pioneered discussions with IPC Committees and represntatives regarding the state of Disability Sports in the African continent. Bracing all odds against his disability, the Nigerian never-say-give-up amputee speedstar, recently ran the 100 metres dash in 11.08 seconds; a world record-breaking feat for a double-arm amputee.

To add more flesh to this Nigerian's enviable records, he was the third African, Nigerian athlete to be nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award, and also in the Laureus World Sportperson of the Year with a Disability category. According to reports made available to nigeriasports.com, you will be greeted by the ever-smiling face of Vitalis Lanshima, who is always in "sweat pants, a T-shirt and what seems to be a perpetual smile. It is demeanour befitting someone, who recently ran the 100-metres dash in 11.08 seconds to break the world record for a double-arm amputee."