Faces of the Games

The first time since I've been involved in Special Olympics, national media coverage finally discovered what we have known all along-how sport can change lives for people with disabilities and that they all have a story.  ESPN did an exceptional job covering the World Games and their writers sought out and featured our athletes narratives-so much so, that we as coaches experienced more of the public "getting it."  Not just saying they know what SO is about, but really understanding and accepting it.

Through countless interviews for TV coverage, newspaper stories, online pieces and social media, the athletes shared their lives with the world.  Smiles, high fives, hugs, ribbons and medals were their reward for hard work and dedication to their sport.  I think the joy in what they've accomplished can be reflected in their faces-pride in themselves and for everyone who has supported them.

I hope I've captured some of that-these are the athletes of our Athletics (track and field) team.

Nicole-Sprinter

Laurene-Race Walk

Keith-Sprinter

Linda-Sprinter

Kendal-Sprinter

Mike-Sprinter

Mark-Middle Distance

"D"-Middle Distance

Alex-1/2 Marathon

Ashley-Distance

Destiny-Sprinter

Chauncy-Sprinter

Ben-Sprinter

Casey-Pentathlete

Thomas-Sprinter

Karen-1/2 Marathon

Brittany- Sprinter

Olivia- Sprinter

Briana- Sprinter

Josh- Distance

Chuck-Jav

Jose-Jav

Brandon-Sprinter

Robert-Throws

Shakila-Sprinter

Alberta- LJ

Gillian-Middle Distance

Laura-Middle Distance

Theo-Sprinter

Hayden-Race Walk

Jordan-RaceWalk

Dillon-Middle Distance

Steve-Head Coach

Last Day on the Track.

We spend so much time thinking ahead to things, dates and times we look forward to, but there is always a danger of wishing ones life away I guess. For those of us on the Special Olympics USA athletics team, these World Games have been something we' ve prepared for and Loki g forward to.  Pre-camp seems like a distant memory now (last week at UC Riverside) and even this week of competition at USC has been a blur. It's now the last day on the track..

I guess it's flown by for me, as head coach, just because we seemed to have one crisis after another in the first few days- some on track others away from it.  World Games are never easy, up early, all day going seemingly mach speed and emotions all over the place.  At the end of the day, there is more work to dive into so the athletes and coaches know the following days schedule. And it starts again.

So we're here, big day ahead and the dorms are just now waking up.  The half marathon will be held in Long Beach and I'm sending our distance coach and sports manager there to accompany the two USA runners.  The track will be full tilt boogie, with SO USA brandishing 7 relay teams. We should make a good showing.

The athletes all clapped and cheered at the end of last nights team meeting- I'd gone thru the schedule and the awards and performances from the day.  We talked about the relays, what we would practice in the morning and that by 5:30pm, the final race will be run. They seemed fired up.  My thought was I don't think they will have the same emotion when they leave the track late today.  Most will never have this opportunity again nor see their teammates again.  Standing on the podium later and having medals placed over their heads may cloud that some, as it should, but sooner or later, it'll hit them.  The coaches will realize it first.

We still have a lot on our team plate, competition , closing ceremonies, a team tour of LA, massive packing and several days of travel.  We'll have feelings all,over the place, but for now, as the athletes are waking, pulling on their USA uniforms, and rubbing sleep from their eyes,  we have a job today, put out the very best we can in front of the world on the track.