PASSING THE TORCH

This one-hour special recounts the inspirational story of Peter Westbrook, a man  of African and Japanese descent that was born with next to nothing but refused  to let that get in the way of his dreams.

Peter grew up in the ghettos of  Newark, New Jersey.  His Japanese mother, determined to distract her young son  from the crime and drugs that permeated their neighborhood, encouraged him to  focus on sports, and one sport in particular: Fencing.

Peter, who was  fascinated by Zorro, took to the sword and the rest is history. He’s been to  the Olympics six times and won bronze in the individual saber at the 1984 Los  Angeles Games.

Age hasn’t stopped his spirit or his talent.  He was 44  years old when he competed at the ‘96 Olympics in Atlanta.  Sadly, his mother  couldn’t be there to cheer him on.  She was murdered shortly before the competition ... beaten to death on a NY bus.

After the ‘96 Olympics, Peter’s life changed gears.  He retired from  competition, and is now devoting all his energy to a foundation he began nearly  ten years ago.  It’s a non-profit program designed to change the lives of  inner-city youth, through fencing.

Peter introduces us to a 17-year old  boy from Harlem who could possibly take his talent all the way to the Olympic  Games.  Akhi Spencer-El was headed down the wrong road, involved with petty  crime and failing in school.  However, just months after taking up fencing,  Akhi’s life takes another turn.  This time, heading toward a rewarding  future.

We also follow another Foundation student, 11-year old Kamara  James.  She travels to her first fencing bout, an international competition in  Montreal, and a world away from her crime-ridden Queens’s neighborhood.  We  watch Kamara experience the thrill of victory and the disappointment of  defeat.

Peter  Westbrook has not only transformed his own life through fencing, but he’s also  having a lasting impact on the future of these youth.

 


EPISODE AIR DATES

In the USA
Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 am ET
on the TBS  Superstation
 

Saturday, December 9 at 10:00 pm ET
on CNN; encores  December 10 at 1:00 am ET
 

In Europe
Saturday, December 9 at 3:00 pm ET  ( 2100 Berlin )
and Sunday, December 10 at 5:00 am ET ( 1100 Berlin )
on  CNN International
 

In Asia
Friday, December 8 at 10:00 pm ET  (1100  Hong Kong )
and Saturday, December 9 at 9:00 am ET ( 2200 Hong Kong  )
 

In Latin America
Sunday, December 10 at 7:00 pm ET  ( 2100 Buenos  Aries )
and Wednesday, December 13 at 10:00 pm ET  ( 0000 Buenos Aries )
 

 

 

Click here to view episode transcript