On the TunneySide of Sports April 4, 2022 #894 Up next… Special Athletes In The Special Olympics
After further review… As you watch these gifted athletes perform in the final game of the 2021-22 NCAA men’s basketball season (Yes, Alice, March Madness is finally over!) and marvel at their athleticism, you begin to wonder if they really appreciate their God-given talents. If you’ve been around athletes as long as I have, you have seen all levels of athletes, unless you have not been a close-up witness to the Special Olympics.
It was the mid-1970s when Teresa Brown called to invite me to be a celebrity presenter and hand out medals at the California Special Olympic Summer Games to be held at UCLA. It was an invitation I was honored to accept. When I drove into my UCLA parking place at about 9 a.m. that first day, I was surprised to see several hundred athletes already warming up for their events. Athletes of all ages, sizes and shapes were sprinting, running the hurdles, and every track and field event one could imagine. And that’s not all as they played softball, had swimming and diving events and with a wonderful spirit. After several years of being part of these summer games, I was invited to join the CSO Board of Directors.
The closer I got and longer I watched the more I wondered how God decided to place his giftedness in some and not in others. However, to these special athletes, they seemingly never questioned that but just continued to accept what God did give them. Their spirit of competition was a sight to behold.
In the men’s high jump — yes, some special competitors were in their 40s — the competition ended with (you guessed it) the “final four.” As this competition was closing down, one of the finalists missed on his second-to-last jump attempt. His competitor ran up to him as that finalist was dejected about his miss. He hugged him (these athletes are big on hugs) and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll make it next time.” This was his competition urging him not to give up! Never give up!
Then I watched Evelyn climb the ladder of that 10-foot diving board and hold onto the side rails as she walked to the end of the board. I wondered why she had to hold onto the side rails. She then performed a beautiful swan dive. Tears trickled down my cheeks when I learned she was blind. What courage!
Will you always remember to appreciate whatever talents you have been given?
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