Jonah Tali Lomu

lomu running (http://allblacks.sportblog.fr/116245/Rugby-Lomu-parrainera-France-Tonga/ (Adidas))

"March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path." (Kahlil Gibran) This quote by Kahlil Gibran relates to a hero who faces many obstacles and pains, but still presses on and makes the best out of what he has. Jonah Tali Lomu was born in Auckland, New Zealand on May 12, 1975, which is the day of the beginning of a Rugby superstar. He is of Tongan decent and was unusually large his whole life; not the fat large, but the muscular large. Jonah Lomu tells precious few stories about his past, but this one is a favorite. He wants you to imagine him as a poor, innocent, Polynesian kid of 13, who spends his empty days hanging around the meanest streets in New Zealand. A mugger spots him sitting alone on a pavement in a particularly volatile district of south Auckland, and orders him to hand over his shoes. Lomu slowly raises himself from the floor... and keeps on rising until he towers over his would-be assailant. The mugger staggers backwards, says something along the lines of "Sorry, I've changed my mind" and disappears into the distance. As you could see, he was unusually large for his age- the perfect size for rugby. Jonah began playing rugby when he was in his third grade. When he was in seventh grade he weighed 195 pounds and could run a mile at 5:40.  Over his high school years, he became a rugby champion for his team and went on to bigger and better rugby. Lomu was the first 18 year old to play sevens rugby for the New Zealand All Blacks and the only 18 year old to weigh over 270 pounds. Not only did he weigh a lot, he also was very fast and quick. In his prime, he could run a 100 meter in 11 seconds and he was a nightmare for the opposing team. Jonah Tali Lomu is a deserving hero because of his ongoing  fight against cancer, his responsibility to maintain his physical abilities, and his determination to stay with the things he loves most.

Jonah Tali Lomu is mentally strong and fought against cancer, as well as the physical battles his body is waging against himself. Jonah Tali Lomu was on the road to a complete success in his ongoing rugby career, but he faced one obstacle. He was beat down with a serious kidney disease in 1996. But because of his ongoing faith and endurance, he came out of it a year later. "There has been a time when I thought my career was over. I have a very strong mind and I'm very stubborn: I won't be beaten."(Lomu) The quote by Jonah shows us that he was determined to go on and do his duty to his fans and his team. By 2003, however, the disease was forcing Jonah to be a bystander, but the big man remained unbowed. The only reason Jonah remained to continue being a superstar is because of a kidney transplant he had in 2004. Besides fighting against his own cancer, Jonah supported and helped many charities including UNICEF, Monaco Peace and Sports, National Kidney Research Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, and Kidney Kids. Jonah Lomu was a hero because he showed the world that no matter what problems you will face, if you remain fixed in your mind with a determined resolution, you can achieve your dream and receive full potential for not only yourself, but others as well.

Lomu Running (http://connect.in.com/jonah-lomu/photos-150961-935851.html (Jonah Lomu Photos))

Jonah stood out to the world because of his responsibility to his fans and team to become the best that he could be. Bizarrely, Jonah plays as a winger; a position usually occupied by the smallest and lightest player. All Black’s Sir Colin Meads once said: “I have seen many rugby players with his size and strength, I’ve just never seen them playing on the wing.” (Meads) He may be big and strong, but this man is fast! In top physical condition, he could run a 100 meter in 11 seconds. Because of this, he was a nightmare for much smaller defenders. You may believe this to be done by a 30 year old champion, but Jonah Lomu was only 18 when he burst into the rugby scene in 1994. "The biggest thing for me is to just get out on that field. Just to do that will be incredible."(Lomu) Lomu captured the imagination of rugby fans worldwide. Martin Johnson, who faced Jonah in a monumental game once said, "Jonah was just so impressive and powerful and unstoppable." Jonah Lomu was an inspiration to many people because of his ongoing determination to be the best, on and off the field.

Jonah Tali Lomu showed the world that they need to stand for and stick with the things they love, even if it means turning down offers that could change your life forever. In 1998 Jonah declined a multi-million dollar offer to play NFL American Football so that he could focus on rugby. Not only did he turn down an offer which many men would kill to receive, but he also put his focus on a sport native to his people and family. It has made them proud. "Tonga runs deep in me, like still waters. You can't escape your roots. It's like a calling and it's shaped the way I am."(Lomu) In 1999 Jonah was offered an acting position to play the villain in The World is Not Enough. He turned down this life changing opportunity so that he could focus more on his rugby career. Jonah showed through his responsibility to his team and his dedication to the sport of rugby that you might have to turn down many offers or choices given to you, in order to achieve the greater and more honorable goal.

Lomu Running (http://www.freebase.com/view/en/jonah_lomu (Jonah Tali Lomu Autobiography))

Jonah Tali Lomu was inspirational to me because, regardless of the troubles and obstacles he faced, he literally "trampled" them and became one of the most well known rugby superstars in the world. Jonah also turned down offers, even some that I would beg to get, in order to keep his focus on his true born game. In Lomu’s storied carrier, he never captured a rugby world cup for new Zealand and their fans, however, this is one of a few occasions where a professional athlete did not have to win to be a champion. Jonah Tali Lomu is a deserving hero because of his strength and mental and physical endurance on and off the field.  He has an ongoing determination to become the best he can be, and to shed light on the world of rugby.

"Jonah." All Blacks Website. Adidas. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.

"Jonah Lomu." Almanac of Famous People. Gale, 2011. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.

"On the Wing and a Prayer; Profile: Jonah Lomu." Global Issues : Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues That Affect Us All " Global Issues. Web. 10 Jan. 2012.