Ludwig Guttmann: Doctors Said Nothing Could Help… He Gave Them Sport
In the 1940s, most doctors believed people with broken backs would live just a year or two. Ludwig Guttmann got them out of bed and gave them sport. His games became the Paralympics. Learn five B1 words and how to use believe (that) with the true story of Ludwig Guttmann.
Coming 1 January 2027, 3:00 pm New York time
Transcript
Tap a time to jump to that moment. Highlighted words have a meaning: tap them. Words in bold show today's grammar.
In the 1940s, most doctors believed people with broken backs would live just a year or two.
One doctor did not agree.
He got them out of bed, and he gave them sport.
This is the story of Ludwig Guttmann.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
. To is to leave a place quickly because of danger.
In 1939, he and his family to England.
. A is damage to the spine, the bones down the middle of your back.
It can stop people from walking.
Most doctors believed nothing could help people with a .
. A is a chair with wheels for people who cannot walk.
They played sport in their .
. To is to try to win against other people.
Sixteen people in in .
. The are a big sports event where people from many places .
In 1960, the came to Rome.
Now, one pattern: believe that, plus a clause.
We use it to say what someone thinks is true.
He believed that sport could change lives.
We can also leave out that.
Ready? Let's begin.
Ludwig Guttmann was born in Germany in 1899, into a Jewish family.
At 18, he helped at a hospital.
He met a young coal miner with a broken back.
Weeks later, the man died.
He became a doctor of the brain and the nerves.
But in the 1930s, the Nazis took away the rights of Jewish people.
He could treat Jewish people, and nobody else.
In November 1938, Jewish men were arrested all over Germany.
He let 64 people into his hospital to hide them.
In 1939, he and his family to England.
In 1944, he opened a new centre for at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, near London.
Many of the men there were soldiers hurt in the war.
At that time, most doctors believed nothing could help people with a .
Most of them died within a few years.
Guttmann believed that they could have a long and useful life.
His nurses turned them in bed every two hours, day and night, to stop sores.
He got them out of bed, gave them work, and made them exercise.
They played sport in their .
Sport was more than fun.
He believed that sport could change lives.
It built up their bodies, and it gave them hope.
On 29 July 1948, the Olympic opened in London.
On the same day, on the hospital lawn, 16 people in in .
Two of them were women.
Every year, the grew.
In 1952, a team from the Netherlands came, and the became international.
In 1960, the came to Rome, with about 400 athletes from 23 countries.
Today, we call these the first Paralympic .
In 1966, he became Sir Ludwig Guttmann.
He died in 1980.
Today, thousands of athletes in the Paralympic .
Let's review. In 1939, he and his family to England.
Most doctors believed nothing could help people with a .
They played sport in their .
Sixteen people in in .
In 1960, the came to Rome.
And remember: he believed that sport could change lives.
Ludwig Guttmann's story teaches us: believe in people, and they can do amazing things.
Want more interesting lessons?
Go to brightlivesenglish.com.
Please subscribe and learn with us.
Step 3
Words from the story
Say the word, guess its meaning, then flip the card. Keep the ones you know, and practise the rest again.
Great work, you know every word in this story. Now try the quiz below.
flee verb
to leave a place quickly because of danger
“In 1939, he and his family fled to England.”
spinal injury noun
damage to the spine, the bones down the middle of your back; it can stop people from walking
“Most doctors believed nothing could help people with a spinal injury.”
wheelchair noun
a chair with wheels for people who cannot walk
“They played sport in their wheelchairs.”
compete verb
to try to win against other people
“Sixteen people in wheelchairs competed in archery.”
games noun
a big sports event, where people from many places compete
“In 1960, the games came to Rome.”
archery noun
the sport of shooting arrows with a bow
“In 1948, they competed in archery.”
disability noun
a condition that makes some things harder to do, like walking or seeing
“Athletes with a disability compete in the Paralympic Games.”
rehabilitation noun
helping someone get back strength and skills after an illness or injury
“Sport was part of their rehabilitation.”
Grammar in the story
believe (that) + clause
We use it for: to say what someone thinks is true
- He believed that sport could change lives.
- Most doctors believed nothing could help people with a spinal injury.
From the story
- He believed that sport could change lives.
- I believe that everyone can learn English.
Find it in the story 8 times
Your turn
He that sport could change lives.
Most doctors believed nothing could help.
I believe that everyone learn.
Step 4
Story Challenge
7 quick rounds: choose, fill the gap, build the sentence and match the words. Answer in a row to build a streak and earn bonus points.
Well done!
Look at these again
This week's top 10
Resets every MondayNo scores yet this week. Be the first!
Lesson complete!
- 0/4steps
- 0/8words learned
- 0/3stars
Up next
Loading your next story…
Take it further
Before you watch: Have you ever watched the Paralympic Games? What sports do you know?
After you watch: Write three sentences with believe (that). For example: I believe that sport is good for everyone. My teacher believes I can pass the exam. Many people believe that music helps them study.
Think about it: Guttmann believed in people when others did not. Has someone ever believed in you?
