So I kept a picture of this next little guy
on my desk for many years.
There's a picture.
Yep, yep, yep.
Rudy Garcia-Tolson is one of my heroes.
He has a heart the size of a mountain and a spirit
to match it.
Rudy was born in 1988 with rare multiple birth defects.
His legs had not formed properly,
making it impossible to walk.
MRS. GARCIA-TOLSON: And it was very devastating on us
his parents but also on Rudy.
He wanted to be a normal kid.
He was out there doing everything
that a normal kid would do.
OPRAH WINFREY: He underwent 15 operations before he
turned five years old.
Doctors said Rudy's best option was to amputate both legs
from above the knee so he could be
fitted with artificial limbs.
And by the time he got these new high tech legs,
this little boy was on fire.
RUDY GARCIA-TOLSON: I swim, I run, I bike,
and I play football.
I ride my skateboard.
And I'm just unstoppable.
OPRAH WINFREY: We were first introduced
to the 11-year-old dynamo back in 1999 by Robin Williams.
They were partners in a charity triathlon.
Then, I got to meet him in person.
So do you feel that you're a hero?
Do you feel that this takes a lot of courage?
Yeah, because inside it feels I'm like helping people.
And inside I feel like I'm doing something good in my life.
Oh, I love you.
I love you.
Thank you so much.
It's been seven years now since Rudy was here.
Please welcome Rudy Garcia-Tolson.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]
Welcome back, Rudy.
Oh, great to see you.
Thanks for having me back.
OPRAH WINFREY: How old are you now?
18.
You're all grown up.
And I know that when you were here
you had a goal of going to the Paralympic Games.
Yes.
I set that goal when I was about seven years old to go
to the Paralympics in Athens.
And three years ago I went to Athens
and I got a gold medal and a world record.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]
Yeah, beautiful.
And what is your motto?
My motto is a brave heart is a powerful weapon.
OPRAH WINFREY: Is a powerful weapon.
And you know you've been an inspiration to so many people.
Yes, including Julie Frank from Hayes in North Dakota.
Julie's son Jake was born with rare birth defects,
and like Rudy had to have his legs removed,
and they were, you know, as any parent would be,
they were really like desperate for answers.
We were feeling frustrated with the doctors
that we were working with because they
were telling us the things that he wouldn't be able to do.
It would be difficult for him to get
up and down from the ground.
It would be impossible for him to ever ride a bike.
When we saw Rudy on the "Oprah Show,"
it was just like someone unlocked the door.
We knew that Jake's future was wide open.
We took the videotape in to see the prosthetist that was
traveling to our small town.
He took us to the back room, put the videotape in.
When the tape was finished playing, he popped it out.
And I said, I want this for Jake.
And he said, that's no problem.
He said I know that kid.
I know Rudy.
His prosthetist is my brother.
Isn't that amazing?
So the doctor that she went to said my brother did that.
Jake is here, so come on out Jake.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]
Have a seat, have a seat.
It's good to see you.
Good to see you.
I hear--
I hear is it true that you have a goal of going
to the Paralympic Games too?
Yes.
And you're seven?
Eight.
You're eight, oh excuse me.
Excuse me, eight.
And what do you want to do there?
What do you want to do?
What's your competition?
Probably like run.
Run, probably run.
Because you want to be like this guy?
Yeah, what do you want to say to him?
Thanks for being a mentor.
Of course.
Jake's parents, Steve and Julie Frank are here.
Where are they?
Oh wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
Thank you.
What's your sister's name?
Madison.
That's your sister?
That's great.
Great.
And so once you saw that tape, you felt hopeful, correct?
Hopeful, yeah.
Very hopeful.
And just encouraged and gave us that vision for our son
that we didn't have otherwise.
So that's what you do.
You give people hope. - Of course.
OK, so we're going to look forward
to seeing you in the games.
Thank you Rudy, thank you Jake.
We'll be right back.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDS]