BAY RIDGE — Alexandra Capellini was heading for the trip of her life. She and her mom, Diane Donchak, left for Beijing, China on September 4.

Alexandra is the young eighth-grader from the Genesis Program at Xaverian High School who won a trip to see the Paralympics. She loves writing and enjoys studying science and history; her favorite authors are Judy Blume and J.K. Rowling.

Alexandra is a Cadet in Girl Scouts and loves helping others. She loves being with her family, especially her younger sister Sophia, who is her best friend. She loves to play tennis, volleyball, swim and ski. And oh, yes, she is also an amputee cancer-survivor.

During the early part of 2008, while at the Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sports, Alexandra attended Amputee Ski Camp and found out about the Paralympics. She decided to try to win a trip to see the games by entering a contest. She had to fill out an application stating her grades, which she said “are pretty good,� and what sports she participated in. She then had to write an essay “about how much you love sports. That was the easy part.�

In May, she got a phone call from the U.S. Paralympic Academy (a division of the United States Olympic Committee) telling her she had been selected, along with 24 others, to travel to the Paralympic Games, which take place after the Olympics right in all the same venues.

Since leaving for Beijing on Thursday, September 4, Alexandra has been keeping a journal. It has been available on her website at www.alexandracapellini.blogspot.com.

On September 6, the group’s first official day in Beijing, Alexandra writes, “The whole group took a shuttle to the Summer Palace, which you could say is Beijing’s Central Park. The Palace was incredibly beautiful. We passed these orchards of flowers, Chinese souvenir shops and there was a beautiful view of a lake where people could go paddle boating.�

Alexandra went on to say, “Later that day were the OPENING CEREMONIES! The whole group started walking towards the Bird’s Nest. What a view! After going through security and holding our tickets in my hands, my Mom and I started to get very emotional. This couldn’t be happening to us! The Birds Nest was lit up so beautifully that I can’t even start to explain what I was going through. The Opening Ceremonies, the thrill of it and the excitement all made me feel like everything was going to be okay, and that it was going to be a great week—one I would never forget.�

The next day Alexandra and her mom got to see Wheelchair Basketball in the new National Indoor Stadium, and swam in the Water Cube — the same spot Michael Phelps wreaked havoc in last month.

“In swimming,� Alexandra wrote, “I saw Jessica Long (I am one of her biggest fans) win Gold in a close call with Australia in the Women’s 100m Butterfly. Go Jessica! I also saw Rudy Garcia Tolson swipe another world record winning Gold in the 200m IM. Go Rudy! (Did I mention that before breakfast, the group got to personally meet Rudy at the hotel, hear his story and take pictures with him!) I also saw Erin Popovich swim and win Gold. Go Erin! I also saw Miranda perform and win Gold. Go Miranda!�

In addition to the Paralympic events, the group participated in a scavenger hunt, where they needed a picture with a foreigner, an exotic Paralympic pin and a picture in front of McDonalds. “Who knew there would be a McDonalds in China?� exclaimed Alexandra. But there was, and a few meals were eaten there.

Alexandra is back now, at Xavierian’s Genesis Program, but says, “Thank you, USOC, for giving my Mom and me this amazing, beyond expectations, experience to see the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies 2008! You may even see me in 2012 or 2016!�

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2008
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