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Hernando Today

Special Olympics Athletes 'Power Lift' Their Way Up

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: September 26, 2008

SPRING HILL - "Up, down, carefully. Keep it straight," Spring Hill resident John Bows instructed his teammate, as she practiced her power lifting skills.

A deep look of concentration on her face, Spring Hill resident Tara Valveri, 28, carefully lifted the heavy bar off the ground, keeping her head up and back straight, then placed it back on the ground.

Bows applauded, eyes sparkling.

"Team Hernando, that's us," he said, patting his teammate on the back.

The two are athletes on Hernando County's first power lifting team for Special Olympics. They have spent the past month training at Powerhouse Gym, and will compete in a regional competition at the Spring Hill fitness center on Sunday.

With other sports that include track and field, softball and swimming, the year-round, worldwide series of sports competitions is designed specifically for athletes with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 different countries.
Hernando County currently boasts more than 120 Special Olympics athletes from age 17 to 50. Athletes must be at least 8 years old to complete.

Head coach Buddy Short, a caregiver who lives in Homosassa, explained that he began volunteering for the organization two months ago, after convincing one of his clients - Bows, 46 - to enter the swimming portion of the competition.

Bows, who has Down syndrome, said it was the first time anyone encouraged him to try Special Olympics.

"It was exciting to me. I love getting good ribbons," Bows said, smiling proudly.

With seven athletes on the power lifting team, this is the first year local athletes have ever competed in the sport, an event that consists of squats, dead lifts and bench presses.

Since the program is not in local schools, the group is run entirely by hardworking volunteers, explained Hernando Beach resident Fred Click, county coordinator for the organization.

There is never any cost to the athletes, and even their uniforms are purchased by local businesses, he said.

"We're real proud of all our athletes and what we've accomplished," Click said. "The community has been very supportive."

Coach Cathy Terry, who lives in Brooksville, said she initially got involved seven years ago to provide a social outlet for her son, William Terry III, a student at Central High School in Brooksville, whose disability is classified as a "teachable mental handicap," or TMH.

It has changed his life, she said.

"He never had friends," Terry said. "What you see here is all he has. All of the people he (associates with) now are from Special Olympics."

Her daughter, 16-year-old Kristina Terry, is also a volunteer coach.

While the events are designed to accommodate athletes' abilities, they are still competitive. Following Sunday's competition, athletes have the opportunity to advance to state, national and even world competitions, Click said.

"We take them across the state and stay in hotel rooms, and for some, it's the first time they've ever been away from their parents," he said. "The Special Olympics are a lot bigger than most people realize."

The games also provide an opportunity for personal growth for the athletes, said his wife, Frances Click.

"It's an opportunity to focus on what they can do, instead of so much of the time, when people are focused on what they can't do," she said.

Sunday's regional competition will take place at 2 p.m. at Powerhouse Gym in Spring Hill. It also marks the first time regional games have ever been held in Hernando County.

For more information, go to www.specialolympics.org.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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