At Morton Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige awarded the first medals of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games for the 10,000m and 50m runs. [Photo by Kathy Smallwood]
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Competition at the magnificent 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games began on Sunday, 22 June at Morton Stadium, where athletes competed in athletics and the first medals of the Games were awarded in the 10,000m and 50m runs. The 10,000m awards were presented to Shelboy Pitsi (South Africa), gold medal; Leo Murphy (Jamaica), silver medal; Kevin Gibbs (South Africa), bronze medal; William Durfee (Team USA, SW), fourth place; Itis McFarlane (Jamaica), fifth place; Mikhail Yuran (Belarus); sixth place; Darren Guertner (Team USA, SW), seventh place; and Daniel Winslow (Team USA, SW), eighth place. (Full results of all events were available on the official 2003 World Games Web site.)
The medals were presented by Poland’s First Lady Jolanta Kwasniewska and U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. Secretary Paige toured the stadium and spoke with athletes, coaches and family members, including the delegation from Special Olympics USA - Missouri, who shared their experience with the Secretary. Athlete Steven Walker, who received first place in his division in the Springfield, Missouri, marathon, introduced himself to Paige. He shared his recent experience at the Chicago Marathon, where he finished in 3 hours 17 minutes, placing him 22nd in his division and qualifying him to run the marathon at the World Summer Games. Walker loves to run and told the Secretary he hopes to acheive a personal best time here at the World Games.
Paige also met several athletes from Mexico and Jamaica who were preparing for the 400m. Paige was impressed by the athletes' fitness level and connected with them immediately, sharing his experience in running the same event for Jackson State University.
Thrilled athletes flocked to the renowned boxer Muhammad Ali, who also visited Morton Stadium to congratulate and encourage athletes in their competition and to demonstrate his wholehearted commitment to the movement.
In addition, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, T.D., visited the stadium to support the athletes in a brilliant start to the 11th Special Olympics World Summer Games
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