When Kristy Smith’s daughter graduated from high school, the Bellingham Independents Special Olympics didn’t have a track and field program. At the start of the pandemic, she decided to step up and create the program.
Fast forward five years later, the athletics program is thriving, and its athletes are stoked to be able to participate in something physically active.
Hillary Prunty, a Special Olympics athlete, is glad that she is able to have something to go to after graduating high school, where she was on the track and field team. She participates in soccer, softball and athletics.
“I do the 200-meter walk, but I think next year I’m going to do a 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash,” said Prunty. “Just try it out and see if you like it. If you don't, there's no harm in doing it because nobody urges you.”
According to Becky Kendall, parent of Special Olympics athlete Maddie Fellers, Special Olympics gives people with special needs the chance to participate in something fun and healthy. It’s also a chance for athletes to make friends and be themselves.
“I get to see her excited, and when she wins, she smiles really big,” Kendall said. “She always asks when track and field is coming up, and she loves coming here for practice. I just like seeing her happy.”
For Kendall, the Bellingham Independents Special Olympics group has become like a family for her and her daughter Maddie. She is happy that her daughter is able to participate in an activity with a good support network.
“It reminds me that there needs to be more inclusion and work opportunities, volunteer opportunities,” Kendall said. “It’s sad that there isn’t more activities like this for someone with special needs.”
Misconceptions exist about what Special Olympics is, and what athletes do. People might not realize the work and dedication that goes into competing in Special Olympics.
“[A misconception is] that they’re not really athletes, that they don’t do as well as other people who are doing track and field,” Kendall said. “But they’re out here every single week practicing and working just as hard as some of the athletes. I hate that misconception that they’re just slow and not athletes.”
According to the Special Olympics organization, “94% of athletes and teammates say Unified Sports made them healthier and 91% of athletes and teammates report Unified Sports improved their sports skills.” There are more than five million Special Olympics athletes around the world.
Athletes on the Bellingham Independence Special Olympics team participate in races that range from a 10-meter wheelchair race to an 800-meter race. At the state games, they offer up to a 3.5-meter race. Some athletes receive assistance, while other athletes race independently.
For coach Smith, coaching has made her lots of connections with both athletes and parents.For Smith, it can be rewarding to see an athlete's progress.
“With the parents, I’ve made some great connections and even with other coaches and other parents from other teams because you start seeing each other all the time,” Smith said. “What I’ve enjoyed most is actually just being able to be here with the athletes and work with them and work through things and seeing them build each year., We have some athletes that started at 25-meter walks that are now doing 50-meter or 100-meter walks.”
The Bellingham Independents has 400 to 500 athletes enrolled through all sports, going from ages eight and up. The athletes compete at a regional and state level.
Right now, the athletes are in the spring season, which includes the athletics program (track and field), swimming and soccer. In the fall, there is bowling, and hopefully flag football. Smith says they are still looking for a flag football coach. In the winter, athletes have the opportunity to participate in snow sports, including the Baker ride program and basketball.
Athletes can compete in multiple sports, even in the same season. For example, in the spring season, some athletes can do swimming, athletics, and soccer.
The state games for spring sports take place in Tacoma, the fall state games are near theTri-Cities and the winter sport state games take place in Wenatchee. Bellingham is part of the northwest region for regional events, which is from King County to Whatcom County.
The state events bring athletes from around Washington state to compete, although they are competing against each other, they still have lots of fun.
“Our state games are a blast,” Smith said. “There’s a huge opening ceremony, there's a victory dinner, dance, and all the athletes mingle together and hang out and celebrate, so it’s really cool. The nice thing about Special Olympics is even though they’re competing against people, they become friends.”
The Bellingham Independents Special Olympics would like to give a shout out to the City of Bellingham for donating Civic Stadium for their practices.
Brady Rufner (he/him) is a sports and recreation reporter for The Front. He is in his first year at Western and is majoring in visual journalism. When he isn’t covering stories or taking photos, he is usually running, skiing, or playing soccer. You can reach him at bradyrufner.thefront@gmail.com.
