完形填空
His palms were sweating. He needed a towel to dry his grasp. The sun was as hot as the 1 he faced today at the National Junior Olympics. The bar (横竿) was set at 17 feet. That was three inches higher than his personal best. Michael Stone faced the most 2 day of his pole-vaulting(撑竿跳高) career.
You couldn't tell whether Michael Stone was surprised, excited or vain about clearing the bar at 17 feet. As soon as he 3 on the inflated(充了气的) landing mat, Michael immediately began 4 for his next attempt at flight. He seemed 5 the fact that he had just beaten his personal best 6 three inches and that he was one of the first two competitors in the pole-vaulting 7 at the National Junior Olympics.
When Michael 8 the bar at 17 feet 2 inches and 17 feet 4 inches, again he showed no 9. As he lay on his back and 10 the crowd sigh, he knew the other vaulter had missed his final jump. He knew it was time for his final jump. Since the other vaulter had 11 misses, Michael needed to clear this vault to win. A 12 would get him second place. It was nothing to be ashamed of,13 Michael would not 14 himself to have the thought of not winning first place.
He rolled over and found his pole, stood and stepped on the runway that 15 the most challenging event of his 17-year-old life.
As he sprinted (冲刺) down the runway, something felt wonderfully different, yet familiar. When he took a deep breath, it happened. He began to 16 like an eagle.
He later went on that day to clear 17 feet 6 inches: a new National and International Junior Olympics record.
With all the media attention and sponsorship possibilities, Michael's life would never be 17 again. It wasn't just because he won the National Junior Olympics and18 a new world record. And it wasn't because he had just increased his personal best by 9 inches. It was simply because Michael Stone is blind.
A chance encounter can sometimes make all the 19 to whether hardship brings 20 the best in us or the worst.
