Special Olympics athlete sets goal Lyle Carter
‘If you feel you want to give up, you are quitting on yourself’
With an eye on the World Special Olympics, Anthony James is working hard to secure a spot on Team Canada.
“I was just appointed to the national training squad for Team Canada,” James, 24, of Truro, said. “I was really excited, this is great news. I’ve been wanting to compete for my country since I started in track back in Grade 9.”
A heavy training schedule is required during the coming months.
“To stay on the team, an athlete has to train three days a week, every week,” said James. “You have to eat healthy and maintain your physical ambitions and speed. The heart is the big thing, if you feel you want to give up, you are quitting on yourself.”
For the young athlete, who can quickly recall coaching instructions, the recent Special Olympics Games in Antigonish proved uplifting. Flourishing in a number of track events, James earned a gold medal running in the 200m, he was awarded silver medals in both the 100m and the 400m and came away with bronze medals in the 4X100 and 4X400 relays.
When asked about the achievement of receiving five medals, James commented.
“I was very happy with the way things worked out. I was hopeful of bringing home one medal. When things went the way they did, I felt really happy, really fortunate. I ran faster than I ever ran before, I was an underdog so it was really something.”
Heather Patton, a special trainer at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, works closely with James and local runner Brianna Harris, who earned a gold medal in Antigonish.
“I started working with Brianna and Anthony in January to improve their strength and con- ditioning in getting them ready for nationals,” Patton said. “They would come to spin class once a week and they would work in the gym with weights once a week. Brianna and Anthony are best of friends, they both love to win, they are both positive and dedicated regarding their training. I have enjoyed very much working with Brianna and Anthony.”
Janice Milton, James’s Special Olympics coach, has been involved with Special Olympics for nine years. Milton, involved in intellectual disabilities studies at St. Francis Xavier University, commented.
“It would be the ultimate for an athlete to get to represent his country, this is something Anthony always wanted to do. Anthony is very dedicated in regards to training, he is a very committed athlete. Anthony has been winning a lot lately, he keeps a very positive outlook. Anthony has a great attitude regardless of whether he wins or loses. He can handle whatever happens on the track.” Jason Hanks is a close friend of Anthony’s. He is also involved in Special Olympics and competes as a runner and in shot-put and long jump. “Anthony and I are good friends,” Hanks, 20, of Truro, told me. “I’m one of his biggest supporters. Anthony inspires me with how well he does in Special Olympics. Because of him, I want to get better. Anthony is a very good guy, he is friendly to everyone. Anthony is one of those guys you want to be around. We also work together at ‘New To You’ on Arthur Street.” In thanking Hanks and James for very interesting interviews, thoughts came to mind as to how athletes grow through their travelling and competing and how friendships develop through competitive challenges, friendships that may last a long time in one’s future. I enjoyed watching some of the Canadian senior men’s fast- pitch championships in St. Croix last week; the calibre of ball was outstanding. Newfoundland Galway Hitmen were very impressive, going undefeated in tournament play, they defeated B.C. Sooke Loggers 3-0 in the gold medal game. Representing Nova Scotia well, East Hants Shooters Bar & Grill Mastodons, rallied Friday with two wins to secure a double knockout playoff spot. Losses Saturday, 2-0 to B.C. and 3-2 to Saskatoon, put the Mastodons on the sidelines. Brian Bartlett, a former local pitcher and senior fastball coach, summed things up well. “I enjoyed the ball, there were good crowds, it was great to see so many people at the St. Croix field. This is the best fastball in Canada, with such overpowering pitching, a team doesn’t get many chances to score a run.”