Poem by David Roth — A narrative poem about compassion at the Special Olympics.
The athletes had come from all over the country
The spectators gathered around the old field
To cheer on all the young women and men
The final event of the day was approaching
Excitement was high to begin.
The blocks were all lined up for those who would use them
The hundred-yard dash and the race to be run
There were nine resolved athletes in the back of the starting line
Poised for the sound of the gun.
The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners all charging ahead
But the smallest among them, he stumbled and staggered
And fell to the asphalt instead.
He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling this story
The crowd and the runners felt every bit of his hurt.
The eight other runners pulled up on their heels
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they all turned round and went back to help him
And brought the young boy to his feet.
Then all the nine runners joined hands and continued
The hundred-yard dash now reduced to a walk
And a banner above that said (Special Olympics)
Could not have been more on the mark.
That’s how the race ended, with nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And a standing ovation and nine beaming faces
Said more than these words ever will.
Key facts, theme, tone, and form explained simply.
Poetic techniques used in the poem, with examples from the text.
| Device | What It Means | Example from the Poem |
|---|---|---|
| Imagery | Words that paint a picture in your mind (visual or sound) | “fell to the asphalt” — you can see him fall; “pistol exploded” — you can hear the starting gun |
| Alliteration | Same starting sound repeated in nearby words | “stumbled and staggered” — both start with ‘S’ |
| Repetition | A word or phrase used more than once for effect | “nine” is repeated throughout — nine athletes, nine gold medals, nine beaming faces |
| Metaphor | Saying one thing IS another (without ‘like’ or ‘as’) | “His dreams and his efforts dashed in the dirt” — his hopes are compared to something being smashed |
| Personification | Giving human feelings to a non-human thing | “the pistol exploded” — a gun cannot really explode with emotion, but it feels dramatic and alive |
| Narrative Poem | A poem that tells a story with characters and events | The whole poem tells the story of a race step by step |
| Irony / Surprise Ending | The outcome is opposite to what you expected | A race where everyone stops and walks together — yet everyone wins gold! |
Important words from the poem explained in simple English.
Practise at home to remember the poem better.
1. What happened to the smallest runner in the poem?
The smallest runner — a young athlete competing with great courage — tripped and fell on the track just before reaching the finish line. Instead of finishing the race, he lay on the track in pain and confusion. This unexpected moment of crisis stopped all the other runners and became the turning point of the poem. His fall was not a failure — it became the moment that revealed the true spirit of the Special Olympics.
When the other runners saw the smallest athlete fall, every one of them stopped running. They did not think about the gold medal or the finish line. Instead, each runner turned back, walked to where the fallen athlete lay, gently helped him to his feet, and then they all walked together — hand in hand — across the finish line as one group. Their compassion was greater than their desire to win. This act of kindness made the crowd rise to their feet in admiration and brought tears to the eyes of all who watched.
The main theme is that compassion and human kindness are far more important than competition and winning. The poem teaches us that true victory is not about crossing the finish line first — it is about uplifting others and crossing it together. The Special Olympics reminds us that every human being deserves dignity, encouragement, and love, regardless of their abilities. When we help others instead of stepping over them, we all win something greater than a gold medal — we win each other’s hearts.
Example of alliteration: “nine determined” uses repeated consonant sounds, or look at “stumbled and stopped” where the ‘st’ sound repeats. Alliteration creates a strong rhythmic beat that makes the lines memorable and musical. The repeated sounds also draw attention to the key action of the poem — stopping, which is the most important thing any athlete does in this story.
The poem is called “Nine Gold Medals” because all nine athletes received a gold medal — not just the fastest. When they crossed the finish line together, holding hands, the judges awarded every single athlete a gold medal. This title carries a powerful message: when we act with love and courage, everyone wins. No one needs to lose for someone else to win. By naming all nine medals, the poet shows us that the greatest prize is not speed but kindness — and on this day, all nine athletes earned it equally.
1. If you were one of the eight runners, would you have stopped to help? Why or why not?
Yes, I would stop to help. When I see someone fall — especially someone who has worked so hard just to stand on that track — it would feel deeply wrong to keep running. The athletes in the poem lost nothing by stopping. In fact, they gained something far more precious: the love and respect of everyone who watched, and the joy of having lifted another person up. That one moment of kindness was worth far more than any gold medal could ever be.
2. What does the Special Olympics banner mean to you after reading this poem?
The Special Olympics banner — “What I am able to do” — is a powerful message of ability and possibility. It tells us not to focus on what a person cannot do, but on what they can do. Every athlete at the Special Olympics has overcome enormous challenges just to stand on that track. The banner reminds us that every human being has strengths, gifts, and the right to try, to grow, and to be celebrated for their effort — not just for finishing first, but for showing up at all.
See the story of the poem as a picture timeline, then as a mind map.
Story Timeline — Follow the race from start to the finish.
Mind Map — The whole poem at one glance.