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Special Olympics Kentucky coach Mickie McManamon. |
McManamon's profile by Grainne Cunningham and Grainne McDonagh, reprinted from The Games Gazette, the official newspaper of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Special Olympics Kentucky coach Mickie McManamon is one of the few people who can claim to be celebrating 37 years of involvement in Special Olympics.
As a 16 year old high school student, she volunteered to help out on Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s lawn in the summer event that launched the Games back in 1966. Almost four decades later, McManamon, coach with Special Olympics Kentucky, is head coach for the Great Lakes Region of the Special Olympics Team USA and said she jumped for joy when she heard she was coming to Ireland.
McManamon admitted that she was scared when she first volunteered but has never looked back. It was a fantastic experience. Since then, McManamon has been constantly involved in Special Olympics and has coached everything from swimming to her current sport, athletics.
With her experienced eye for World Games, McManamon said she is in awe of the standards at Morton Stadium, particularly with regard to how well the athletes are catered for. She was also moved by the Opening Ceremony on 21 June.
One of her athletes, Joseph Kaczynski, 18, had high ambitions for his 3000 meter run. He had shaken off his jetlag and was ready to go. ‘‘I’m hoping to run my best time ever,’’ he said.
Katie Crawford, 32, confessed to being intimidated at having to run against one of Special Olympics greatest legends, Loretta Claiborne. But she loves to run and was hoping to shave some seconds off her prelim times.
Their coach, McManamon, said her whole life has been dedicated to helping athletes meet their challenges.
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