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by Michelle Sutton-Kerchner
The winter Olympics may be finished, but member Margo is still training full force. Be inspired by her impressive accomplishments in Special Olympics …
As with any athlete, focus is always on the next big performance. For Olympians, it’s the Olympics. For Margo, it is the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games to be held in Seattle this summer. She will be among the more than 4,000 athletes and coaches proudly present.
A Lifelong Athlete
Margo began swimming at a young age. However, swimming is not her only sport. Her well-rounded talents have allowed her to compete in the softball throw, soccer, snowshoeing, track and field, cycling, and cross-country skiing over the years as a Special Olympics athlete. Margo’s successes with the organization began when she was six years old.
Margo is also a member of Special Olympics Athlete Congress and Special Olympics Global Messengers. These positions allow her to represent her peers to help influence policy. Her latest mission is to introduce a new sport to the Special Olympics games: pickleball. This game, which is like a fusion of ping pong and tennis, has been gaining general popularity among athletes everywhere.
How Margo Became a National Competitor
We first highlighted Margo when she was training in 2010 to represent the United States in the Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece. She was one of only 40 members on the United States Aquatics Team. (See https://fitnessandwellnessnews.com/successes-to-celebrate-inspire/). Her Center swim coach from that time has since relocated and began his own Special Olympics team. (Inspired!) Margo now works with Swim Instructor Chuck.
“My goal is to increase endurance. I want to compete in the longer swim events, like the 200-meter backstroke and the 200-meter freestyle,” Margo shares. Her work with Chuck focuses on building strength and stamina. Chuck gets creative with his training. For one drill, he added a 10-pound weight to Margo’s kickboard, along with a parachute for extra resistance. Clever! He also films Margo in slow motion to play back and critique skills with her.
To complement her training at the Center, Margo swims with the Monmouth Marlins, a Special Olympics swim team. With them, she practices weekly throughout most of the year. Special Olympics New Jersey has its own practices at various regional pools, as well. For Margo and her parents, it’s a grab-swimsuit-and-go lifestyle.
If you don’t find her in the water, Margo may be in the Center Pilates studio where she takes a Pilates Small Group Training class. She enjoys the personalized attention made possible in a small group of only four participants. Margo loves swimming, and insists Pilates helps her be a better swimmer.
A few years ago, Margo enjoyed the Center’s Special Olympics indoor triathlon. This included the traditional swim, bike, and run segments done among the Center’s amenities. She also did a relay in a Special Olympics triathlon around the same time. For that, two other athletes did the cycling and running; Margo completed the .25-mile ocean swim, a feat often considered the most challenging. Both events further prepared her for all the Special Olympics competitions since then.
The Value
Special Olympics is not all “fun and games.” Athletes can be disqualified for minor oversights there as well. Good sportsmanship and quality performances are signatures of Special Olympics. The inclusive nature allows those with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together in unified sports. This accepting approach is exemplary and Special Olympics shines brighter thanks to it.
Margo and other Special Olympics athletes thrive in this environment. “I love the excitement of the competition and making new friends. Special Olympics helps me be a better person.”
We are proud to have Margo, and her talent, in our presence.
