Special Olympians prepare for Nova Scotia
Fourteen Peterborough athletes at Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games next week
A number of years ago, Special Olympic athlete Lisa Butler represented her province proudly on the national stage.
Now, the 34-year-old track and field athlete says she’s stronger and will do her best to bring home some medals when she competes at the Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games next week.
Butler is one of 14 Peterborough athletes who have qualified to represent Ontario at the games in Antigonish, N.S., running from Monday to Aug. 5.
Butler will compete in the 400and 800-metre races, as well as running long jump, and competing in mini javelin toss and shot put.
“I like them all, I’m good at all of them, but my most favourite and the one I’m strongest at is shot put,” Butler said.
In addition to regular practices, Butler says she tries to stay fit by working out at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre. Staying healthy is one reason she says she enjoys Special Olympics.
“And I get to compete and I like to race and do my field events,” Butler said.
Two of the other Special Olympics athletes who will be competing at the nationals — Dylan Armstrong and Brandon VanSickle — were called up to play for the A division team based out of Brampton. Both have proven themselves to be great competitors on the field, so much so that the coach of the A team wanted them to join. They practice every Monday night in Brampton, and with the rest of the athletes from Peterborough on Tuesdays at Keith Wightman Public School.
“I’ve been playing since I was seven. I like the fact that it’s competitive and the teams are getting a lot stronger out there, “said Armstrong, 25.
“There are more teams getting better that build up their skills and maybe pass us or maybe not pass us ... but we want to stay competitive together.”
This will be Armstrong’s second time competing on the national stage. About eight years ago the team he was on placed third, he said.
“The atmosphere was pretty good and competitive with the crowd going,” Armstrong said.
This will be VanSickle’s first time representing his province. He’s looking forward to competing and meeting new people.
“I like that it’s a team sport and we get to meet new people in the community and other players from across the country. Calgary is supposed to be there and British Columbia,” said VanSickle, 25.
The other soccer players from Peterborough will be playing in another division with a couple of other players from the Orillia area according to head coach Debbie Quinlan.
She and fellow coach Barb Henry have been holding regular practices to get the team ready for the games.
For Nicole Hewitt it’s not so much about playing soccer as it is making new friends. The same is true for Brian Davis.
“I like having fun with my friends and bugging the heck out of them,” he said with a laugh.
Candace Bushie says she enjoys meeting new people as well, but also loves playing soccer.
“It’s one of my favourite sports,” Bushie said. “And I like going to things like this and it will be my first time going to Nova Scotia.”
The team will be flying to Nova Scotia to compete, Quinlan said. Many of the athletes’ families will be joining them to offer support and to cheer them on, she said.
The national games are held every four years with this year being extra special because it marks the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics in North America, Quinlan said.
Since it began in 1968, many have seen the benefits to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics events are now held across the globe, but Canada has an honoured place within the movement because of the work and efforts of Dr. Frank Hayden. He pioneered the research and the structure that the Special Olympics is based on.
Quinlan says there are rumours that Hayden will make an appearance at the national games this year to help celebrate the 50th anniversary.
She adds having so many athletes from Peterborough attending definitely makes her proud. She’s been a Special Olympics coach — both for swimming and soccer — for more than 14 years.
“All 14 athletes are from Peterborough. It’s one of the biggest groups of athletes going from a city. And this is the first time in Peterborough we’ve had such a huge number of athletes going,” Quinlan said.
The athletes have worked hard to get to this level, she added. Qualifying for nationals began three years ago.
“We qualified to go to provincials that were held last year in Mississauga. We won and two teams from Ontario were chosen to go to the nationals,” Quinlan said.
The cost for each athlete to compete is around $1,600, Quinlan said. However, sponsors and donors are making it easier on the families by making donations to the athletes.
Theresa Hewitt, with East Peterborough Lions Club, says they raised $2,500 to help the athletes out. The money was collected from clubs throughout the district the East Peterborough group is part of.
“It was raised from different events the clubs have done,” Hewitt said.
Every bit helps to ease the financial burden for parents who just want the athletes to compete and have fun, Quinlan said.