Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
Marlborough athletes going for gold
A decade after bagging a gold medal at the international Special Olympics, track and field athlete Dale Smit is looking forward to testing the waters at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Wellington.
Smit, who won gold in the 10-kilometre track event in the world summer games in Shanghai in 2007, is off to Wellington this weekend and is hoping his ‘‘nonstop training’’ will pay off.
Smit, 32, is one of 37 athletes from Marlborough gearing up for the Games, which start on November 27 and are held every four years.
He had been training seven days a week to ensure he is at the top of his game.
Smit and fellow athlete Matthew Cannon, 27, were entered into track and field events, in a range of middle distance and sprinting heats, and Cannon was also entered into shot put.
Smit and Cannon’s track and field coach Annabelle Latz said she was ‘‘really looking forward to it’’.
Latz had been coaching Smit and Cannon once a week since September.
‘‘We have worked hard... I am just looking forward to seeing Dale and Matthew really bring together what they have been working so hard towards,’’ she said.
Latz said it was important for the athletes to get recognition for their hard work.
‘‘It is good to get behind them and support the Special Olympics movement because it is pretty unique and the more people can be aware of the hard work they put in, the better.
‘‘Like any big project, it’s nice to see all the hard work come together,’’ she said.
Frances Watson, Cameron Rowe and Tracy Sawyer were three out of 15 swimmers from Marlborough competing in the Games.
Sawyer, a first-time competitor, said she was feeling ‘‘nervous’’ about the competition but hoped to walk away with a medal.
The games will be held at 10 venues around Wellington. Athletes will compete in their specialised sports, including athletics, basketball, bocce, equestrian, football, golf, indoor bowls, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis and ten pin bowling.
There were a total of 1300 athletes from across the country participating in the national games. More than 500 coaches and management staff would support the athletes, as well as about 600 volunteers.
Special Olympics New Zealand chief executive Kathy Gibson said there was a 32 per cent increase in the number of athletes and coaches registered this year. The youngest athlete competing was 9-years-old and the oldest was 74.
The opening ceremony will be held at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Monday, November 27.