Client Stories
Competitors recount of Queensland Special Olympics Team at the 9th National Games
held in Adelaide
In June 2009 participants received a letter in the mail to notify them if they had been selected in the Queensland Special Olympics Team. The event was to be held from 19th – 24th April 2010 in Adelaide. Eighteen participants from Gympie were selected in different sporting events, which included swimming, athletics and ten pin bowling, just to name a few.
All the competitors were overjoyed and very excited about being selected but knew a lot of hard work was to follow, even though they had been in training for at least the last twelve months before this.
One of our swimmers, Kim Reisenleiter, was training an hour each day, 3 days a week for twelve months both at home and away. Kim said: “All participants from the squad were extremely dedicated and soon felt like one big happy family. The Head Coach, Assistant Coach and three Team Support Coach’s were very professional and encouraged all of us to work to the best of our abilities”.
The big day finally arrived when they were all packed and ready to journey off to Adelaide in the big birds of the sky. They got off the plane, onto the buses to their accommodation, then had lunch and changed from their travel uniform to the Opening Ceremony uniforms. The Queensland Team walked into the Opening Ceremony first, due to holding the last games in 2006 at the Gold Coast. This was a tremendous honour for them all.
Mark Vincent came out and sang “Raise Me Up” which was very inspirational to all teams. The Flame was lit and the Games were officially opened by the South Australian Premier. Mark Vincent then sang “This Is Your Moment” and the Rock N Roll Dances entertained the crowd. The SA Police Band played the Bagpipes as everyone followed them out to the buses.
Events were held at various locations and times throughout the next week and as expected competitors were feeling a little nervous.
The Queensland Swimming Team received a total of 181 medals which is a fantastic effort from all involved.
Personally, Kim was involved in four events which saw her win medals in all of these. They were Bronze in 50m Freestyle, Silver in 50m Backstroke, Silver in 50m Breaststroke and Silver in 100m Medley Relay which she brought home in the Freestyle to a roaring crowd. The next day, as Kim was finished her events, she helped the Assistant Coach’s with other participant’s requirements.
When all swimming competitions were completed on Thursday night the athletes decided to PARTY in their rooms and what a party this was. With some very tired eyes the next day the athletes went to encourage both the A Grade and B Grade Queensland Football Players in their Finals, which they both won against Victoria in very tightly played games.
Stephen O’May were selected into the Queensland Ten Pin Bowling Team and both performed very well.
Stephen received a Gold medal for the Singles event, Silver medal for Teams event and a Bronze medal for the Doubles event. A great achievement.
After all events were finalised the whole Queensland Squad came together to do their Queensland Song to mark the end of the journey before heading off to the Closing Ceremony. They sat down and the Officials announced that the next Games will be held in Athens, Greece in June 2011 and then in Melbourne in 2014. A few Official speeches took place, the dousing of the Flame and then dancing all night long.
Stephen O’May and Elijah Bond have been selected in the Australian side to go to the Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece in June 2011.
We wish them good luck,
and may all their dreams come true for the future.
