I can easily say that being a Special Olympics coach and volunteer has changed my life. I have been coaching with the organization since I was 15, and it has played a huge roll in my teenage years and my early adult years.
I have met some of the most determined and dedicated athletes while volunteering with Special Olympics, who bring the biggest smile to my face every single day. I get to share my passion for sport in a fun environment, challenge myself, challenge athletes, and make countless friends.
Nothing is more exciting than seeing an athlete you’ve worked with coming home with a gold medal from the World Games.
During the April 8 meeting of Prince George City Council, Council recognized Linda Mary Renner for winning two gold medals and one silver medal at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. – https://t.co/WD0SBBNUS8 pic.twitter.com/2iOOMxnTuc
— City of Prince George (@CityofPG) April 10, 2019
Special Olympics is an organization I think everyone should volunteer with at least once in their life. It is one of the most rewarding things ever. I’m going to share with you on how I got involved with Special Olympics, and why it is so important to me.
It was November 12th, 2016. The Edmonton Speed Skating Association was hosting their annual Fall Classic at Clareview Arena, and looking back now, that competition changed my life forever.
My family and I had made the drive from Prince George to Edmonton for the competition. My sister and I were competing, my mom was coaching, and my dad was the cheerleader and skate sharpener. It was a usual speed skating competition for the Masich Family.
The overall competition was good. I raced well, placed decently, but my biggest takeaway was the relay event. And not even my category’s relay event – the Special Olympics relay.
I was in the oldest category at the competition, and at the end of the meet, we had to do relays. Speed skating relays are often called organized chaos, because that is what they really are. Once my category was done with ours, organizers asked a few of us to help and skate in the Special Olympic relay as well. I, and a few other girls obviously said yes.
My friends and I took part and we all had a blast. We got to slow down and enjoy our race. There wasn’t any stress about trying to win the race.
I think the smile on my face says it all on how I felt about the relay. I was having a blast. The Special Olympic athletes also had a blast.
After the competition and when we were driving back home, I looked at my mom and told her that I had SO much fun doing the relay that I want to volunteer with Special Olympics.
So I did. I started the following spring and helped coach ClubFit and track and field, and then when the winter came, I started coaching snowshoeing.
I have watched countless athletes break their personal bests, cross the finish line with the BIGGEST smile on their v\face, and I have made so many friendships these past 5 years with the organization.
There are days when I am super down and just want to lie in bed, but I have to go coach. And when I arrive, I am greeted by smiles, waves, and “hi Sylvia!”
Everyone is welcomed and celebrated.
In my last year of high school in 2019, my mom and I started a program with the Prince George Track and Field Club to have high school aged Special Olympic athletes train with the club in preparation for the Zone Championships.
We had four athletes join, and at the end of zones, three athletes qualified for provincials. Two of favourite memories from doing that was when one of my athletes could do the shot put all by himself without me giving him cues on what to do next. It was a big deal that he could do that. My other favourite memory was seeing how welcoming the other track athletes were during practice. They would cheer on my athletes and interact with them; often times when they were at school, they would be made fun of or bullied, so seeing that they were welcomed was great.
Unfortunately due to COVID, my mom and I haven’t been able to run the program, but we are hoping it’ll be back this coming Spring.
When I asked my friend Marinka why she loves Special Olympics so much, she told me that she loves making new friends, competing, and getting to travel all over. Which honestly, same.
Knowing that you are a positive impact in the lives of countless athletes, and helping make a positive impact in their life is such a special feeling. Special Olympians live in the moment and that has taught me to embrace what is happening right then and there, to enjoy life, and to be a friend to everyone.
Special Olympics is truly a life changing organization for volunteers and athletes. If you want to get involved with Special Olympics, click here.