Not my swimmer…but he could be…
“Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.”
“Breath from the side of your head!”
“Reach for the can of corn on the top shelf!”
“Your legs are engines… the pistons make waves, make waves!”
Over several years coaching Special Olympics I’ve developed strange sentences to get the point across.
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It’s Saturday at 10 am and I’m pacing poolside as Sophie and Eric practice freestyle in lane 6. At this moment my other worries take a backseat to Sophie’s left arm refusing to extend fully and Eric not utilizing the power of his legs. The money that I need to transfer, my messy house and the projects waiting for me are gone in these moments as the water flash curved triangles of light and the buoys sway like a Hawaiian lei in the sun.
Then, unexpectedly, Sophie flips at the end of the pool finding purchase on the side of the wall to explode forward finishing the second half of the lap as strong and sweet as Southern iced tea.
There’s more beauty in this work than anything I’ve ever done. I’m not doing it for the athletes that participate and I’m not doing it for… in the end, this is something that is for everyone. My community is better because of what I do and there’s nothing better than that.
Hope
The motto for Special Olympics is:
“Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.”
There is no losing in Special Olympics and that is so very appropriate. The wins are in split seconds when an athlete realizes that they have it, the change from season to season, the excitement of a loved one, a high five, an arm across a shoulder, a cheer… I win every day that I work with Special Olympics… multiple times.
I look in the pool as Eric pulls his body forward swiftly with a strong freestyle. At 14 he has a swimmer’s build and he has gotten stronger in every way since I first met him.
I met Eric three years ago. He was in the shallow “non-skills” pool and he communicated with grunts and screams. Things have changed in two seasons…
“Thanks, Coach Ryan” he said to me as he hopped out of the deep end and walked to the shower.
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Two years…
730 days.
His development is due to a loving family, tons of work on his part, a special school, patience and a little bit of me. I love that young man and I’m very proud of him. I think that this is the first year that he is able to understand that.
Eric will be competing in the freestyle and backstroke during Regionals soon and he will win… and I’ll probably cry.
Change
Eric’s story is so common that I’m writing this article based on the athlete’s that I had today. As I went through and asked the other coaches what they’re favorite thing was about Special Olympics they all said that they loved watching the change from year to year.
Inspiration
Sophie had a pacemaker put in 8 months ago. This is a common occurrence because of congenital predispositions. She’s always been my rockstar, my prodigy, my close friend and one of the most lovely young women I’ve met in my life. She gives me the most friendly hug every time I see her and then she asks about my family… even after she’s had major surgery.
I almost can’t write about her because I love her so much. There is no human on this planet that I know to be as socially intelligent and as well loved as her. Being a part of her victories is one of the most precious things that my heart owns.
Love
People often ask me if I do this because I have a loved one with special needs. I always look at them and smile and say yes, I have quite a few.
I’m of the opinion that we all have “special needs”.
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As practice drags on before Regionals Sophie begins to tire and her left arm stops coming out of the water during her freestyle.
“Okay Sophie! We’ve got a few laps left before Regionals. Let’s push this. I want your arms to feel the air…”
“Got it Coach,” she pulls her dark rubber goggles past her white swim cap, “give me a count.”
“One,” I say as she knifes her left arm forward pointing at the other side, “Two. Three!!! Go Sophie! Go!”
Her legs push her body from the wall and she shoots through the first few yards before coming up. Her arms come out of the water with no lag and dip in like knives. She’s a well-oiled and finely tuned machine with one function. The water parts as she tears perfectly through the middle of the lane.
She comes in hot and reaches for the edge.
“What was my time?” she asks pulling her goggles back.
“I didn’t do the stopwatch,” I reply, “I just wanted to watch you swim one last time this season before the big meet.”
She smiled at me and gave me a quick nod.
Sophie will win… and she will have tried harder than anything I’ve tried for in my life.
And I’ll hold the towel.
For information on how to volunteer with Special Olympics visit them here: http://www.specialolympics.org/get_involved.aspx
Photo: Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrú/Flickr
