Albany Med presents ‘bonus training’ for Special Olympics athletes

ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany Medical Center and Special Olympics New York revealed a “bonus week” of virtual training for Special Olympics athletes and the community.

The virtual training includes healthy heart tips by Suzie Mookherjee, M.D., two nutritious cooking segments by Kathleen Miller, MS, RD, CDN, and an interval workout led by Jillian Abbruzzese, BS, NASMCPT, CES.

The videos are free to access on the Special Olympics New York YouTube channel.

“Special Olympics New York is proud of the virtual platform we have provided to keep athletes healthy, fit and socially connected during this time of pause,” Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman said. “It has not been easy going from a ‘see you on the field’ to a ‘see you on the screen’ organization.

“We’re fortunate to have dedicated partners and fans like those at Albany Med ,who share our values of acceptance and inclusion and genuinely care about how our athletes are doing.”

“The coronavirus pandemic is challenging our community in many unprecedented ways, and it has been an especially difficult time for those with intellectual disabilities,” Albany Med President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, M.D. said.

“At Albany Med, we recognize that providing ongoing support to continue healthy habits like good nutrition and regular exercise are key to optimal health, and that this type of support should not stop due to the pandemic. We are delighted to collaborate with Special Olympics New York to meet this challenge by contributing to its virtual training program for the Special Olympics athletes,” McKenna added.

Immediately following the suspension of its formal sports training and competition in March, Special Olympics New York launched its first-ever virtual training program in an effort to keep athletes healthy, fit, and engaged from home.

The full program ran for eight weeks and included 15 live sessions that brought athletes together for a live workout and visits with special guests such as Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Harrison Phillips, Fashion Models Sanne Vloet and Eniko Mihalik and New York Rangers Alumni Adam Graves.

Following its virtual program, Special Olympics New York offered another first – a Sports Season At Home for athletes statewide to compete in. That season was celebrated live online last week, attracting more than 600 athletes, coaches, and fans from throughout New York.