|
| |
|
| Luis Canel, Special Olympics Guatemala, celebrates at the 2003 Special Olympic World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. [Photo by Bryan Brophy, IRELAND OUT] |
Luis Canel's family situation (he is one of eight) is a very sad one. His mother died eight years ago, and his father has abandoned the family. Because of his disability, only two of Canel’s siblings have any relationship with him. In spite of this background, he is industrious and enthusiastic about his participation in Special Olympics.
Canel achieved fame during the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and not just for his medal-winning athletic performance. His story was publicized in The Games Gazette as well as on radio by the RTE Voice of the Games team (the station could be heard all over the world via the Internet) — Special Olympics Guatemala was able to take care of his expenses to travel to Ireland, but as a member of the cycling team, Canel still needed a bicycle.
Frantic fundraising efforts before the Games resulted in enough to make a half payment on the bicycle, but the shop owner allowed him take it with the agreement that he would pay the remaining cost when he returned. Canel disclosed that when he returned to Guatemala he planned to pay off the other half of the bike by using it to perform two jobs: the first as a courier delivering material for a photographic agency; the second scavenging in the local market after it closed for discarded food that he could sell.
John Creedon’s radio show covered the story, with broadcaster Damien O’Reilly concluding by asking for help from members of the public. A call came through almost immediately from Noel Collins of Blanchardstown, Ireland, who offered 50 Euros towards the cost of the bicycle. The RTE team then decided to cover the cost themselves, and offer the money that was subsequently donated from hundreds of other listeners, who were also touched by Canel’s story, to the Games’ general fundraising efforts.
Canel won gold in the 5km time trial, and two bronzes in the 1km and 10km time trials. Standing on the medal podium as a champion, Canel exulted as a champion. “I love it here,” he said, “It makes me feel good.”
Elizabeth Flynn and Ruth Lysaght wrote the original articles this profile was based on; they appeared in The Games Gazette, the official newspaper of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
|
