I think I'm a very slow reader. How long does it take you to read these two paragraphs?

I consider myself a very slow and arduous reader. However, I believe that I have fantastic attention to detail. It takes me over 1 minute to read through these two paragraphs and feel comfortable with knowledge retained. I’m interested in how fast you can read and retain them because I think I’m one of the slowest readers in the world. My children think there is something wrong with me.

If you’re interested, I’d like to know how I compare to others. So at your discretion, with no official timing, just approximations will do… Ready?... GO!

American Swimmer Gary Hall Jr. overcame diabetes to win four medals in the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia. He anchored the US 4×100 medley relay to victory in world record time and also won a gold in the 50 freestyle relay, plus a silver medal in the 4×100 freestyle relay and a bronze in the 100 meter freestyle.

Hall nearly missed the Games after refusing to pay a fine for marijuana use. He appealed against a three-month suspension imposed in 1998 by world swimming’s governing body FINA after he tested positive for marijuana. FINA considered it was a second offence but Hall maintained it should have been considered a first infraction since the first time he tested positive—at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics—marijuana was not on the list of prohibited substances. Hall refused to pay the fine, saying: ``If that means I won’t compete in Sydney, then so be it. It’s a matter of principle.’’ However, the US swimming federation decided to pay the fine on condition that Hall agree to conduct several swimming clinics for American youngsters without pay, which the swimmer accepted.