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Special Olympics participants get hooked on 'warm fuzzies' By
Katie Miyake Let me win, Like any other athlete, Robert Larsen, trains, competes, wins and loses. But he does it all with crutches. Larsen, a 21-year-old from Preston, Idaho, has chocolate-brown hair, glasses, a lisp and is a member of the Utah State University Special Olympics team. Larsen's disability, cerebral palsy is a birth defect that results from damage to the brain. "The whole left side of my brain that tells me how to walk is damaged because of a lack of oxygen," Larsen said. Because of his disability Larsen has used crutches his entire life, but this has never slowed him down. When he was 10, Larsen and a friend with Down syndrome joined the Idaho Special Olympics team. He first competed in the 50- and 100-meter assisted walk and the softball throw. He has now participated for 11 years and has been a part of the USU team for three years. The Utah State Special Olympics team is the only one in Cache Valley. Team director Matt Ormsby said on average there are 45 competing athletes and 30 volunteers. There are three state competitions each year: the fall, winter and summer games. The athletes pay nothing to compete and Ormsby said, it takes well over $10,000 to support the team for one year. Most of the money comes from fund-raising events. The team also receives money from donations. "Anyone can make a donation," said Ormsby. "You can simply right out a check to Special Olympics or even just donate your time and talents." As a volunteer coach USU student, Bart Liechty, attended the fall games, at the University of Utah in Oct. He coached Larsen in power lifting, where he took home the silver medal. Larsen also competed in the 200-meter and 400-meter races and trained for cross-country ski events. Larsen said he continues to participate simply because he enjoys it. He also likes to be with the other athletes and coaches. "I like to know that I'm not the only one out there with a disability," he said. "Tons of people out there have disabilities just like me." According to the Special Olympics website, more than a million children and adults with mental retardation compete each year. The Special Olympics covers the world in six regions. The site states there are Special Olympics Chapters established in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa. About 25,000 communities in the United States have Special Olympics programs. Their mission is to "to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports" by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship. Athletes can compete in 24 events. They range anywhere from basketball, badminton to bowling. Special Olympics Utah offers 19 individual and team sports and also offers coaches training sessions, training camps and athlete training. The training camps provide intensive training in single sports and are followed by a traditional eight-week training period prior to competition. As one of those coaches, Liechty has been involved for eight months and is also the Assistant Public Relations Director for the USU Special Olympics. "I got hooked and couldn't stop," said Liechty. "I can't not be involved anymore." Liechty said two of Larsen's greatest qualities are that he never complains and is dedicated. "Robert is always positive and lives for the Special Olympics," Liechty said. Liechty and Larsen practice together at least once a week. Larsen has been able to build muscle and strength in his legs and arms by exercising for the games. Larsen said competing has given him the discipline and ability to train hard. "I do like to win because I've trained so hard and I want to do my best, but also have a good time," said Larsen. Liechty said coaching has not only given him the "warm fuzzies" of service, but has also taught him to be patient and not to worry about the trivial things in life. Liechty is an athlete at heart who craves competition and loves to coach. He played high school football and track and has since coached football at Mountain Crest High School. He now plays on intramural and city league teams year-round, but this 6-foot, 175-pound athlete has learned more about sportsmanship through coaching Special Olympics than in all his years of sports. "I'm so competitive and love winning that it was a humbling experience for me to watch the athletes have more fun cheering each other on than winning gold medals," Liechty said. "It almost brought tears to my eyes." Liechty also said by always focusing on winning he missed out on the real meaning of sportsmanship and respect. Respect and friendship are things that matter to Larsen. He not only loves to compete, but also loves to make lasting friendships. "I like getting to know all the ladies," Larsen said. Larsen will always remember the trip to Moscow, Idaho, when a girl he adored slept on his shoulder. He even met his girlfriend through the Special Olympics. "She is quite the gal," he said. Besides competing and making friends, Larsen has also attended school. He received his degree in office technology from the Bridgerland Applied Technology Center and attended the Lifetime for Learning Center. He has lived in Logan for two-and-a-half years and likes it because it is bigger than his hometown. "I don't go to Preston that much because it is such a small town," said Larsen. "There is nothing to do." Larsen plans on competing in the Special Olympics for as long as he can. "Oh, yeah I'll do it till I'm 75 or 80," Larsen said. "I just hope they [the Special Olympics] never stop because it is so good."
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