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The Agnor family of Delaware describes traveling to the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan as a “once in a lifetime opportunity" to support Ryan Agnor, member of Team USA. Agnor competed in Alpine skiing events, and observing his poise and grace in competition, it's difficult to tell that he only began skiing in 2004.
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Bruce (left) and Sharon Agnor were proud to think that their son Ryan (center) would not only be representing their home state of Delaware, but the United States of America, while competing in Nagano at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games.[Photo courtesy Special Olympics Delaware] |
When Bruce and Sharon Agnor, Ryan's parents, learned of his opportunity to compete in the World Games, they couldn't resist the urge to travel to Japan and offer their support. It wasn't long before they were boasting of Ryan's achievements and their upcoming adventure to extended members of the Agnor family.
Not keen on being left out of the excitement, Ryan's grandparents, Bill and Lois Agnor, announced that they intended to travel to Japan and offer their support as well. With three generations making up a cheering section, they were satisfied that they had enough people to ensure that Ryan could hear his fans as he skied down the face of the mountain at Shiga Ichinose. But the Agnor family delegation wasn't yet complete; uncle Richard Agnor felt that the middle generation of Agnors was underrepresented and bought a ticket to Nagano without hesitation.
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Ryan Agnor, shown here with his Special Olympics Delaware coach Mary Moore, began skiing in Fall 2004. He quickly grew proficient in his new sport and was selected to compete at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, where he won two bronze medals. [Photo courtesy Special Olympics Delaware] |
Ryan Agnor competed in three Alpine skiing events at the Winter Games in Nagano: Downhill, Giant Slalom, and Slalom, and came home with two bronze medals. Agnor finished third in the Intermediate Giant Slalom with an official time of 01:37.89; his second bronze medal came in the Intermediate Slalom with an official time of 01:31.98.
His family members were delighted with Agnor's performance, and they were pleasantly surprised to find they weren't alone cheering in the bitter cold at Shiga Ichinose. More than 1,150 family members from more than 25 different countries attended World Games to cheer for not just their own delegation members, but all the other athletes from around the world. The Agnor family was amazed at the support that Ryan and other athletes received from families and other fans.
“It is impossible to describe how much joy Special Olympics brings to athletes, their families, and the volunteers who make the World Games possible,” said Bruce Agnor.
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