High climbing kid raises hopes
     Michael McCarthy climbed to the top of the Willis Tower not long ago. The Tower stands 1451 feet
(442 meters) tall, the highest building in the US.
     As he got to the last step, McCarthy almost fell down, but that didn't stop him. The 14-year-old boy
finally finished climbing the 2,109 steps and arrived at the top, where he enjoyed the cheers from the
crowd.
     "I just want to show people that if a kid with no legs can do it, anyone can do it," McCarthy said.
McCarthy, who was born without legs, has to wear prosthetic legs (假肢) and use a set of crutches (拐
杖) to walk. But McCarthy has a strong heart. He believes nothing can stop him from achieving his
success.
     He has been in a karate (空手道) school since he was four years old. When he decided to climb the
Willis Tower, his karate teacher, Jeff Kohn, was moved and offered to help train him. They spent more
than 10 hours practicing climbing stairs and keeping balance with the prostheses and crutches on the steps
every day. "It seems that he never knows what tiredness is. Sometimes, I was so tired that I asked him to
call it a day,"said Kohn. "But he said he was still full of energy and wanted more exercise."
     Kohn was with McCarthy for the climb. "I saw the last 10 floors — he went faster," said Kohn. "He's
the most hardworking athlete I've ever trained."
     McCarthy said he was proud of himself and that the Tower now holds special meaning. "When I'm
older, I'll point to the building and say 'Look at this building I climbed'." he said.