Team USA athletes return to Iowa with gold, silver and bronze medals
Special Olympics athletes Mike Warren, Marshalltown and Mary Beth Hawley, Bettendorf just fulfilled a dream of a lifetime. They competed in the 13th Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, the largest sporting event held in the world in 2011. Over 7,000 athletes from 185 nations participated in 22 different Olympic-type sports setting personal records, achieving individual and team goals and showing the world that they truly are competitive athletes.
Mike and Mary Beth flew to Baltimore, MA on June 18. In Maryland, they joined 315 other athletes and 126 coaches, including management team members to create Team USA. The following day, Team USA flew to the Isle of Rhodes where they participated in the Host Town Program. From June 20 – 24, Team USA learned about Greek culture and history while exploring the beautiful country. During this time the team also completed sports training, including exercise and practice. The team arrived in Athens on June 24. Opening Ceremonies were held on June 25 at Panathenaic Stadium.
“The Parade of Athletes was my favorite part of the Opening Ceremony. It was great watching the athletes from all over the world enter the stadium,” Mary Beth said. “You could tell everyone was excited about the ceremony and the World Games.”
Mike said he enjoyed watching Vanessa Williams and Stevie Wonder perform. “I also liked listening to Tim Shriver. He spoke at both the Opening Ceremony and the Closing Ceremony and had a great message for everyone to hear.”
Prior to leaving for Greece, Mike and Mary Beth set a goal to win one medal each. Because of their hard work and determination, Mike and Mary Beth each won two medals plus one fourth place ribbon.
Mike received a gold medal in the 10,000 Meter Run with a time of 47:50.65, a bronze medal in the 5,000 Meter Run with a time of 22:50.10 and a fourth place ribbon in the 4 x 400 Meter Relay with a time of 4:25.10. Mary Beth won a gold medal in the 400 Meter Walk with a time of 2:54.20 and a silver medal in the 800 Meter Walk with a time of 6:25.37.
“I am so glad that we each won a gold medal. We are proud to come home to Iowa with four medals and one ribbon,” Mike said. “We each worked really hard practicing before we left for Greece and all that hard work really paid off,” Mary Beth said.
Mike and Mary Beth each had four family members who travelled to Greece to support them during the two week competition. Nearly 40,000 family members, 25,000 volunteers and 3,000 technical officials / referees helped make the World Summer Games a success.
In addition to the two Iowa athletes competing at the World Games, Iowa was represented by two Torch Run officers who participated in The Flame of Hope. Jana Rooker with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office ran with the torch and Kris Weitzell with the DOC served on the support team. The Flame of Hope was carried by Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement officers throughout Greece, carrying with it the message of “Hope” for a better world. Jana was chosen by SOIA to serve on the Torch Run and Kris was chosen by the Torch Run Council.
Posted 7-07-11
