Military Olympians
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- Winkler gets salute from Bush
Winkler gets salute
By A.J. Perez USA TODAYWASHINGTON—President Bush shook hands with the two dozen U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes assembled at the White House Rose Garden, but saluted just one Monday morning.
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It went to Scott Winkler, a 35-year-old thrower on the U.S. Paralympic team who lost the use of his legs in an accident while serving in Iraq five years ago.
"Scott didn't spend his whole life training to become an elite athlete, but athletic competition helped give Scott his life back," Bush said.
Winkler, of Grovetown, Ga., set the American Paralympic record in the shot put at the trials earlier this month, where he also qualified in the discus.
"This is a great country we live in and it's a great honor to be able to support it in sport, not just in the military," said Winkler, who was aided after his injury by the non-profit Wounded Warrior Project.
Jennie Finch of the U.S. softball team presented Bush with a personalized jersey at the end of the ceremony, which was meant to be a sendoff for next month's Olympics and September's Paralympics in Beijing.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.