Shelley Mann, the American girl, stood to receive her gold medal at the Olympic Stadium. There was an American girl on her right and an American girl on her left. Tears were running down her cheeks as she stood there tall, straight and beautiful. Just another victory ceremony? Not really.

There was a time when Shelley Mann could scarcely move a muscle, much less stand. Stricken with polio at age five, Shelley began going to a swimming pool,…