Natalia Silva Facetti being awarded her medal for dressage at the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
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Natalia Silva Facetti is the center of attention in her Paraguayan family. As a child, she was coddled and protected by her father, mother, and three older brothers. Being the "baby" of the family often carries special privileges, but in Natalia's case, the reasons were more serious. She was born with Down syndrome as well as a congenital heart problem and epilepsy.
During Natalia's childhood, her mother, Maria Eugenia, was always at her side, fearing something terrible might happen to her. Natalia received private lessons at home and did not attend school with other children until she was 10 years old. Nor would her mother allow her to participate in any physical activities.
Then in 1995, Natalia began to practice therapeutic horseback riding, roller skating, and bike riding at her school. Maria Eugenia discovered that her daughter liked sports and performed them well. Natalia's family was aware of Special Olympics and the opportunities it offered, as the Program received much recognition and praise from the media. Yet Natalia continued to be restricted to sporting events at her school.
In February 1995, Maria Eugenia was invited to become a member of the Special Olympics Paraguay Board of Directors. Within a few months, she had been named Director of the Family Program. As she became more and more involved, Maria Eugenia realized the great things that Special Olympics could offer an athlete, and in August of that year she registered Natalia in Special Olympics through her school.
Since becoming a Special Olympics athlete, Natalia has shown great dedication and determination as a competitor. Three years ago, she began getting up at 5:30 in the morning to train in equestrian sports four times a week.
Her perseverance helped her win a silver medal in dressage (exhibition horsemanship) at the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Natalia's hard work has not gone unnoticed in her community either . She has received awards and recognition from the Club Hípico Paraguayo and the Federación Ecuestre del Paraguay (Fedepa).
Natalia puts her athletic activities before everything else in her life. In addition to horseback riding, she swims and practices artistic skating. Three times a week, she plays volleyball in a program for beginners, most of whom also are Special Olympics athletes.
As Natalia's sports skills improved, so did her self-esteem. Maria Eugenia has seen her daughter become more communicative, confident, and outgoing. Best of all, Natalia is now conscious of her health and wants to keep in shape.
"We all know the physical and psychological bene-fits that sports bring," says Maria Eugenia. "Yet, as parents, very few of us have had the chance to see our children's faces brimming with the joy and emotion of having accomplished their goals. Through training and competition, Special Olympics has helped realize Natalia's dreams and her family's dreams. It is a great privilege to be Natalia's mother."
by Paulina Baudet is Special Olympics Latin America Program Innovations Manager. Reprinted from Spirit Magazine, Quarter 2, 2000. |
