Special Spirit 'Rains' at Special Olympics Winter Games

Elizabeth McCourt posed for a photograph in her purple sparkly skating outfit Sunday just after she completed her figure skating program at the 2011 Special Olympics Connecticut Winter Games.

“I have been skating since I was 5," the  19-year-old athlete said proudly. " I competed at the World Games in 2009 and got sixth place.”

Although McCourt lives in Massachusetts, she competed in Connecticut because there is no statewide Special Olympics figure skating competition in Massachusetts. McCourt and her supporters cheered loudly when her efforts were rewarded with a gold medal during the awards ceremony at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt” is the Special Olympics athlete's oath. The words were exemplified by the attitudes of the athletes who competed Saturday and Sunday in the Winter Games, a statewide competition for adults and children with intellectual disabilities.  

Figure skating and speed skating competitions were held at the skating center, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the CL&P Service Center in Simsbury, floor hockey at the Pratt & Whitney Hangar in East Hartford and alpine skiing at Ski Sundown in New Hartford.

A combined total of 873 athletes and partners competed in the weekend’s contests. Some events – such as figure skating – did not include partners, whereas the 13 unified teams in the floor hockey competition had 76 partners involved. Two hundred and fifty coaches and approximately 1,200 volunteers helped make the weekend a success – despite some challenges from the weather.

“This is a very well-sponsored event, and we are also very fortunate that these games run very smoothly thanks to our great volunteers,” said Laura Gremelsbacker, vice president of communications for Special Olympics Connecticut.

“It’s very ‘feel-good’ and it’s an emotional event, but it’s very competitive,” Gremelsbacker said. “All of our coaches are certified, and all of the athletes have to train for at least eight weeks to enter the competition." To qualify for a national team, an athlete must win a gold medal in state competition.

Nicole Clapper, a 14-year-old figure skater from Oneida, NY, took home a gold medal after a graceful routine on the ice. Her grandmother, Lani, who serves  as Nicole's coach, said she practices four days a week and has been competing in the Special Olympics for five years.

Across the lobby, the speed-skating competition was under way in another rink. The RHAM team (named for the “Regional Hebron, Andover, Marlborough” High School), with 26 athletes from all over the Hartford metropolitan area, was a noticeable presence in bright yellow and blue uniforms.

The youngest team member is 14, and at age 42, Luis Sanchez is the oldest. “I’ve been skating for 11 years, and I’m the role model for the younger kids,” Sanchez said. He had just earned a bronze medal for the 800-meter individual race, and was preparing to compete in the 2,000-meter team relay. Sanchez, who lives in Hartford, also plays hockey and participates in Special Olympics track competition.

The second floor of the International Skating Center was the site of “Olympic Town,” a place where the athletes, coaches, and fans could relax, watch movies, or have lunch in between competitions.

The lunch room was being staffed by a troop of Senior Girl Scouts from Canton High School. Carrie Hefler said this was her third year volunteering, and she had worked at the medal ceremonies and helped serve food and drinks. April Oswald, also a third-year volunteer, was enthusiastic about the experience.

“I love how everyone is so friendly and open. I do this to meet new people, and it is one of the best days of my life,” Oswald said.

Troop leader Kathy Westmoreland got involved with Special Olympics nearly a decade ago, when one of her troop members suggested it as a volunteer opportunity. “We really enjoy volunteering at this site, because of the close contact with the athletes,” Westmoreland said.

Despite the winter of record-breaking snowfalls, the weeekend weather presented a problem for outdoor winter sports. Soaking rains Sunday caused the early shutdown of the cross-country skiing and snowshoe competition, as well as the Olympic Town tents at the CL&P venue.

“They got all the races in; they just compressed everything because the tracks were getting ruined,” Gremelsbacker said. Competition was scheduled to end at 3 p.m., but concluded by 1 p.m. “The tracks were getting holes from the rain,” said Gremelsbacker, who had not seen anything like this happen in her six years of working on the winter games. “That committee is so amazing because they were still able to get everything in,” she said.

 In addition to the winter games, Special Olympics Connecticut also holds summer, fall and holiday invitational competitions on a statewide level. The program is open to athletes as young as 8, and there is no upper age limit. Special Olympics also partners with schools throughout Connecticut for its Unified Sports program.

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