Like Olympians everywhere, Kevin Norman is proud of his medals. The wiry young man took two firsts in track and field events at the recent Special Olympics in Comox. Norman, 27, specializes in the 100 m run and the running long jump. His eyes light up when he talks about the experience on Vancouver Island. He enjoyed his time at the armed forces base. Norman, a charming, energetic man makes friends easily. And while he was nervous when he first got to Comox that soon passed as he met other athletes and made new friends. According to Dianne Garrett, the local co-ordinator of the B.C. Special Olympics, this was the first year the Sunshine Coast had athletes in events other than bowling.
Coach Steve Bennett started the track and field events here a little over a year ago. That gave the athletes the opportunity to compete in a meet, a necessary qualification for participation in the Special Olympics.
"If he (Bennett) hadn't started the program a year ago, these guys (Norman and fellow athlete, Gus Vaughn) wouldn't have made it," Garrett said.
Bennett helps the athletes with their training. For his part Norman trains once a week at Kinnikinnick Elementary School and during the rest of the week he exercises and runs wherever possible. Bennett also makes recommendations for the athletes' diets. "The athletes fill their own training log with what they did during the week," Garrett explained.
And for Norman all the training was well worth the effort when he won his two gold medals. In addition to competing, the opening ceremonies and the nightly dances were a highlight for Norman. The only part of the experience he wasn't thrilled about was the artificial smoke piped into the stadium on opening night.
"I couldn't see where I was going," he said.
Another local Olympian Ryan Van Luvan is a gifted athlete. He does well at all sports he tries. A member of the rhythmic gymnastics group on the Coast, he can't compete in this sport at the provincial level because the sport is only open to women at that level. A fact that Garrett thinks is wrong.
She plans to bring the matter up at the provincial workshop for the organization in Kelowna in August.
"The discrimination just blows me away," she said.
Van Luvan also plays baseball and his pitching skills are inspiring. One of his fans said, "Ryan's a pretty good pitcher. He can put some salsa in that thing (the ball) and really make it dance around."
He also swims regularly and although the Gibsons Pool isn't Olympic size Garrett hopes the new complex in Sechelt will rectify that problem.
Garrett got involved in Special Olympics on the Lower Mainland when her daughter Candice became an athlete. When the two came to the Sunshine Coast a couple of years ago Dianne was surprised that the only Olympic sport offered on the Coast was bowling. She and partner, John Huigsloot, worked to make more sports available.
And as with most groups on the Coast, they soon found they needed more volunteers to make that possible.
Right now the Sunshine Coast has about 32 athletes and 17 coaches. The athletes range in age from 14 to 51 but Garrett is quick to point out children eight and up are welcome to participate. "We are in desperate need of more volunteers for bowling in the fall. We need a lot of people to help out there," Garrett said.
And according to Huigsloot it is not an onerous task. "It's not that bad, you're only looking at an hour of your time," he said.
However if you have more time to spare the group can certainly find ways to fill it.
"Each sport has to go to one meet per year," Garrett said.
Everyone is welcome to help. Garrett is thankful for three young women from Elphinstone Secondary School who helped the gymnasts this winter. Another worry Garrett has is money. The vast majority of the athletes are on disability pensions. That doesn't allow for many extras in their lives.
For instance, Garrett says, the cost of buying all of our athletes their required uniforms would be $3,600. And the cost of entering competitions for the athletes is usually $10 to $20 per person and like all athletes performing off Coast there is the high cost of transportation to contend with. And while Garrett is busy fundraising in any way she can, help is still needed from the community. She was pleased with $3,500 local athletes, their families and friends raised during a walk-a-thon this spring.
Garrett gives credit to Megan Thompson the previous local co-ordinator. "She was responsible for keeping it going when nothing was going on here," Garrett said.
Now the ambitious Garrett is hoping to expand the sports offered to include soccer and possibly power lifting if they can find a gym to help at no cost. She's also hopeful the Sunshine Coast Regional District Parks and Recreation will make leisure access available to the Special Olympians. So far the program is only available to single parents on the Coast.
For Garrett it's a labour of love. She wants all athletes to be able to participate regardless of their abilities or economical circumstances.
"They have such determination. They don't quit until they're finished," Garrett said.
If you would like to help the program, Garrett can be reached at 604-886-9510.
