Marlon Shirley is the ultimate American fable.
He is the old story of triumph in the face of adversity, overcoming not just a disability but also a troubled upbringing - and his fellow countrymen have loved every minute of it.
From difficult beginnings, the 27-year-old has become a double Paralympic champion, the fastest man on one foot and the only leg amputee to break the 11-second barrier.
And, while his Paralympic team-mates struggled to get a mention in the miserly US TV coverage of last year's Games, Shirley - who competes in the IPC Open European Championships this week - is still lapping up all the attention.
"My profile in the US is somebody who is still building their brand to remember," he told BBC Sport ahead of his trip to Espoo.
"I think they look at me as someone who is courageous and overcame difficulties in their past and tried to make the best of a situation.
"It's not that people in America don't see me as an elite athlete but it's a human issue story and that's who I am.
"That's the way they do it in America. Would they do the same in Europe? Probably not."
 |  I see myself being more competitive against able-bodied athletes in the long jump than I do in the 100m dash |
Such is his profile, Shirley has been able to sign with companies such as Visa and Home Depot, while his face adorned bags and cups in McDonalds restaurants across America during Athens 2004.
Earlier this year, he signed a four-year shoe sponsorship deal with Reebok, worth close to $500,000 (�279,000).
"I need to earn my keep and I have a pretty good range of endorsements. I need to live up to those by competing," he said on his trip to the European Championships. "The pressure is definitely on."
The Shirley legend goes something like this: he was abandoned in Las Vegas as a three-year-old and lost his left foot in a lawn mower accident two years later.
Bouncing between various orphanages and foster homes before he was adopted at nine, he struggled to stay on the right side of the law until he found his calling in athletics.
Shirley shot to fame at Sydney 2000 when he shocked favourite Brian Frasure to win the T44 100m in a then world record time of 11.09 seconds, while also claiming silver in the high jump.
The rest is history. Along with various other victories and accolades, he returned to the Paralympics last year to successfully defend his 100m title, take silver behind double amputee phenomenon Oscar Pistorius in the 200m and win bronze in the long jump.
| SHIRLEY FACTFILE Born: 21 April 1978, Utah Events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x400m, long jump Category (amputation): 44 (below left knee) Paralympic success:
Gold - 100m (2000 & 2004)
Silver - 200m (2004), high jump (2000)
Bronze - long jump (2004) World records:
100m* (11.08secs), 200m (22.67), long jump (6.79m)
* holds unofficial record mark of 10.97 |
Shirley's world record in the 100m now officially stands at 11.08 - although he has run 10.97 in competition - while his time of 22.67 is the 200m mark, despite the fact Pistorius has clocked 21.97 in the double amputee category.
But Shirley still has plenty to prove, having failed to emulate his 6.79m world record mark in the long jump last year.
"I really look forward to competing against Urs Kolly and Roberto La Barbera in the long jump in Europe," he said.
"That's something I need to do to vindicate the defeat I had against them in Athens because my hamstring was torn.
"I'd like to see 7m. I've done a few jumps and I've really been knocking on the door, but it's going to be a little difficult because I'll be really tired.
"I've got a full schedule with the long jump, 100m, 200m and relay. And the day after I'm done competing, I leave in the morning and compete in Germany in a long jump competition."
As for the future, Shirley is looking to take another step into the history books but whether it is in the 100m or long jump remains to be seen.
"I see myself being more competitive against able-bodied athletes in the long jump than I do in the 100m dash," he said.
"We're talking about possibly qualifying for the US Nationals (able-bodied) in the long jump and I definitely foresee that in my future.
"I'm a Paralympic athlete and I have no aspirations to be anything but that. However, it'd be great to compete against those guys at their own Nationals by making their standard."
MMIX
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