I wipe my clammy hands on my legs as I wait for the signal to start. The world seems like it is in slow motion. I have been waiting for this day my whole life. I tug nervously at my swim cap, hoping it does not come off during my race. I shift slowly from foot to foot and look at the other kids to my right and left. I give them each a small smile and silently wish them well. Finally, the signal sounds and I dive as gracefully as I can into the pool to swim to the best of my ability. It may look different than other swimmers, but I am trying my best and giving it all that I have. The inspiring words of Eunice Shriver run through my mind, “Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.” (1968 Games) It is July 1968, and I have been chosen to participate in the first summer games of the Special Olympics. 

This day has been a long time coming, even before I started swimming in my neighborhood pool, the seeds of hope had started to grow in the minds of Eunice Shriver along with Dr. William Freeberg, Anne McGlone Burke, and many others. Back in the summer of 1962, after seeing that kids with intellectual disabilities did not even have a place to play,  she opened a camp in her D.C. area home for these children. She wanted to give kids with disabilities similar summer experiences as kids without disabilities have. 

By the following summer, there were camps around the country, fostering community and inclusion for the often-forgotten community. At a time when most people with intellectual disabilities were either kept at home or forced into institutions, she helped to make the mainstream community realize that those with intellectual disabilities were people, too, and add value to any community. During the summer of 1967, over 7,000 children around the United States with intellectual disabilities participated in the summer camp program. (Out of the Shadows: Events Leading to the Founding of Special Olympics) 

At the end of 1966, Eunice Shriver introduced the idea of “nationwide sports contests between teams of young people with intellectual disabilities.” (Out of the Shadows: Events Leading to the Founding of Special Olympics) The Special Olympics were born. Through the hard work, determination, and dedication of many people, this event came to fruition in the summer of 1968.

As I finish my 25-yard swim, I feel a sense of accomplishment and wonder at what I have done and all the hard work it took to get here. I was able to complete my swim without any assistance. That has not always been the case. There have been many times when other swimmers and coaches have helped me finish. I lift my head out of the water and hear the cheering of the crowd gathered to watch. I cannot see if I won or not, but I know I did the best I could. I watch and cheer as loudly as I can as the other swimmers finish their race. The pride and joy they feel is evident on all of their faces. As an adult, I will be reminded of this moment when I hear a quote by YouTuber, Technoblade: “One day, we'll look back at where we started and be amazed by how far we've come.” (Heartwarming / Technoblade)

While we are competing against each other, we have become friends, creating a culture of community that supports one another, helping each other, and inspiring all of us to do the best we could. Years later, poet David Roth will pen “Nine Gold Metals,” which tells the lasting impact that the Special Olympics have on this community. The closing of the poem highlights the community we have built: “One by one, they all turned around and went back to help him.” 

Bibliography

“1968 Games.” SpecialOlympics.Org, SpecialOlympics.org, 4 Nov. 2020, 

www.specialolympics.org/about/history/1968-games#:~:text=The%20day%20began%20

with%20an,display%20for%20all%20to%20see. 

“Out of the Shadows: Events Leading to the Founding of Special Olympics.” 

SpecialOlympics.Org, SpecialOlympics.org, 13 Sept. 2018, 

www.specialolympics.org/about/history/out-of-the-shadows-events-leading-to-the-founding-of-special-olympics. 

Roth, David. 9 Nine Gold Medals, www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/Secengcour/book1/L_9.pdf. 

Accessed 3 Mar. 2024. 

“Technoblade / Heartwarming.” TV Tropes, 

tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Heartwarming/Technoblade. Accessed 16 Mar. 2024.