The Federal Way and Tacoma area were filled with the buzz of competition and celebration of the 50th anniversary Special Olympics WA Spring Games the weekend of June 21-22.

The events began with Celebration Week, which featured a Shop with Purpose fundraiser through Safeway, a Special Olympics Washington Night at the June 16 Seattle Mariners Game, and a torch run and opening festivities at the Tacoma Rainiers game.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday, athletes competed in a variety of sports including everything from swimming to soccer to basketball and more.

“Through the power of sports, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment — on the playing field and in life,” the Special Olympics website shares about athletes. “They also inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.”

There are approximately 170,000 people with IDD in Washington, according to the Special Olympics of Washington home page.

‘One of the most caring places I have ever been’

Speaking to volunteers and athletes at the Special Olympics Spring Games, it’s easy to find people with over a decade of positive experiences with their programs.

Carolyn Loew has been involved in the Special Olympics for 35 years as the Venue Manager of the Aquatic Center. This is her last year in that role, and looking back over that time, she has many fond memories and examples of challenges they’ve had to overcome.

Over those years she’s had the chance to see many athletes grow up and witness unexpected skills and abilities over and over again. Swimming in particular highlights what Special Olympics is all about because “anyone can do it,” Loew said.

As just one example, she shared a story of one athlete who had no arms or legs, but swam quickly in competitions

One year all the stopwatches got stolen and they had to think fast. “You can’t run a swim meet without stopwatches!” Loew said. She and the crew “hit every Walmart and sports store in Federal Way” to make the event happen anyway, she said.

Athletes can start participating at age 7, and many stay on for many years or even decades, competing or becoming coaches or volunteers along the way.

This year there were 1,400 athletes, unified partners, and coaches, along with 2,500 volunteers who participated in the events.

Nicole Evanson does administrative work for the Special Olympics through her role at the YMCA Grays Harbor. Part of her role is to make sure all the athletes have the support they need to enjoy the events fully, through accommodations like swimming on an outside lane if they need to.

“This is one of the most caring places I’ve ever been,” Evanson said.

Conner Skylstad-Dragnich began volunteering because his mother did, but has found his own passion for it.

Speaking of swimming in particular, he said he loves the program because “this is the great equalizer. Many of these athletes swim far better than I can, and it’s an opportunity for them to showcase that they have talents and abilities and show how they fit into society.”

The Federal Way Thunder athletes at the Spring Games of Special Olympics Washington. Photo provided by Federal Way Parks and Recreation.

Federal Way sports

The Federal Way Thunder teams include bowling, basketball, swim team, soccer, flag football and golf.

Federal Way athlete Sam Fine has been doing Special Olympics sports in Federal Way since 2013, and this year represented on the soccer team, which won third place in Level A despite being down four players.

Fine said that without Special Olympics and other programs like Friendship Theatre, she would be “less happy because I wouldn’t make friends,” and that she would be less busy, which would probably make her feel depressed.

At Special Olympics, she said she feels more understood when she is upset or having a bad day. She has a job at a local clothing retailer, and although she said her bosses and coworkers are supportive too, sometimes customers “treat me badly” and don’t understand that she needs more time to process information.

When asked what she wishes other people understood about her, she said she wishes they knew that “I’m not the only one is disabled.”

The Federal Way Thunder swim team is coached by Marissa McKay, who brought it back two years ago after the sport was no longer offered for some time during the height of the pandemic.

Before that role, most of McKay’s coaching experience had been with young children, so she has enjoyed the change of working with people who she can really get to know.

The team includes an age range of about 19 to 36, many of whom who have been part of the Special Olympics for many years.

Federal Way athlete Seung Jong competed for his second year this year, in categories including water walking, floating and assisted swim.

He and his mother, Hyun Soon, moved to the United States three years ago from South Korea and got involved with Special Olympics after joining in the programs at the Federal Way Community Center.

While they had access to some great programs in South Korea as well, Soon told the Mirror that the more individual attention and support that Jong has received has been great for him.

“He’s gotten more confidence, when he has a challenge he can practice and learn new skills, then feels proud of himself,” Soon said.

Jong shared that his favorite event out of the three is water walking.

All athletes receive their awards immediately after they compete during swim competitions at Special Olympics Washington Spring Games. Here the Thunderfish team of Thurston County gets their 1st place prize for the 25m relay. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

50 years of Special Olympics

Special Olympics Washington is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year along with a new CEO who started seven months ago.

In an open letter from new CEO Mary Do, she reflected on the impact and future goals of the organization.

“In the past year alone, we served 12,175 athletes and Unified partners, supported by 8,092 volunteers, 1,339 coaches, and 145 Unified Champion Schools. We held 86 competitions and delivered more than 600 free health screenings,” Do said.

In her short tenure, she shared that she’s also had to lead on making some “tough calls” such as “scaling back, letting go of traditions we’d held onto for too long, and starting the hard work of rebuilding trust and confidence,” but that these were necessary if they want to “grow, serve more athletes, and ensure this movement thrives for the next 50 years.”

Do shared that “like our athletes, I’ve learned that true strength isn’t just about winning. It’s about having the courage to keep going even if others doubt you and to keep fighting for inclusion and opportunity.”

Federal Way athletes with IDD who are 12 and older can sign up to participate or find more information here: https://itallhappenshere.org/programs/inclusive-recreation/

Athletes high-five each other after a swim relay race at the Spring Games at the Weyerhauser Aquatic Center. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Volunteers for the Spring Games of Special Olympics Washington. From left to right, Carolyn Loew, Conner Skylstad-Dragnich and Tracy Skylstad. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Athlete Sam Fine shows off her tattoo of the athlete’s oath for Special Olympics. The oath reads “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror

Athlete Sam Fine has competed in Special Olympics games for many years and even has the athlete oath tattooed on her arm. Here she shows off both the tattoo and her recently won third place medal for Level A soccer. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror