Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles gave a touching speech at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics over the weekend. Watch video of the speech above and read the transcript below.
"I've been asked to talk about courage. But I can't talk about courage without talking about fear. Before I had a chance to be an all american running back at Port Arthur high school in Tex, before I had a chance to win a national championship at the University of Texas and attaining academic honors, before I had the chance to become a professional athlete all-pro running back in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, before all those wonderful moments, I was afraid. I was lost. When I was a boy, I had trouble reading. I found out I had a learning disability. People made fun of me. They said I would never go anywhere. But I learned I can fly.
When I was a boy, I had trouble reading. I found out I had a learning disability. People made fun of me. -Jamaal Charles
"When I was 10 years old, I had a chance to compete in the Special Olympics. That's right, the Special Olympics gave me my first chance to discover the talent I did not know that I had. When I competed in the Special Olympics, I found out just how fast I was. I stood high on the podium, getting the gold medal in track and field. When I found out how fast I was, I was blessed with a new company, the company turned to courage, the courage to be the best I can be every day. Now once again I'm proud to take the athlete oath in the part of every Special Olympics.
"My fellow athletes, those here with me on stage and those thousands in front of me around the world, I invite you to say the oath with me: "Let me win. But if I can not win let me be brave in attempt."