Meet the World Games Athletes

11 October 2007

Special Olympics Uzbekistan (Left-right) Unified Sports partner Abdumalik Umarov, Special Olympics Uzbekistan coach Erkin Zakirov and Special Olympics Uzbekistan athlete Artur Rusakov Artur Rusakov and Abdumalik Umarov, Special Olympics Uzbekistan By Lennie Magida The Special Olympics Uzbekistan men's Unified Sports® basketball team was a picture of happy bedlam at Shanghai Jiaotong University Stadium in Shanghai during the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 18-year-old Artur Rusakov was delighted to be a part of it. The team had just won their final-round game on 9 October, and Rusakov had a quick way to describe his feelings: “It's the happiest day of my life.” Coach Erkin Zakirov said exactly the same thing. Unified partner Abdumalik Umarov, 22, simply beamed as he sat next to Rusakov and said, “I can't express my emotion in words.” Rusakov has been playing basketball for eight years and has been part of Special Olympics Uzbekistan since it became an accredited Special Olympics Program five years ago. He said that he's always loved sports, and that Special Olympics has given him a chance to play and improve with the help of “good coaches who care about us.” Umarov joined up a year ago. Not only is the basketball fun and the experience interesting but, he said, “we've become friends.” And now here they were, after what they said was a wonderful time in their Host Town and throughout the World Games in Shanghai. They were celebrating together, as partners.   Special Olympics Team USA Temeca Bradley, Special Olympics Team USA. Temeca Bradley, Special Olympics Team USA By Nancy Wu Straight out of the town of Chattanooga, Tennessee (USA), Temeca Bradley is a 19-year old on the Special Olympics Team USA women's bowling team at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. With bright eyes, a giant smile on her face and a strong Southern drawl, she described how she first was introduced to Special Olympics. As an incredibly athletic teenager, it is no surprise that her teacher approached her and asked her to join the team four years ago. Ever since joining the team, she's been having a blast. “Oh, I enjoy it tremendously. I love it!” Her favorite part of the whole experience is having opportunities to travel, both out of her state and out of the country. With a bronze medal around her neck, Bradley is proud of her achievements in the 2007 World Games and also in her life thus far. She was named Special Olympics “Athlete of the Year 2007” in the state of Tennessee, and this title is well-deserved. She competes in the sports of basketball, ice skating and skiing in addition to bowling. Bradley isn't just an athlete though, she's also a model, having posed for a magazine and for a fashion show. But her true interests lie in the music world, and she hopes to one day record an album with her stepfather. With all of these great ambitions and stunning achievements, what advice does she have to give other hopefuls? “Work hard, try your best, and have fun! Whatever you get, you deserve it!”   Special Olympics Russia Sergey Zhizhin, Special Olympic athlete from Russia. Sergey Zhizhin, Special Olympics Russia By Natalia Grushevskaya Special Olympics Russia table tennis athlete Sergey Zhizhin, 17, lives at Boarding school N5 in the village of Bagryaniki located near the city of Yaroslavl. Fortunately for Sergey and his classmates, the school has an ambitious director, Vantsayev Musa, who is also a sports enthusiast. Under his management the school acquired a new stadium and a gymnasium which transformed the lives of its students forever. The school has had a Special Olympics Program since the 1993 Special Olympics World Summer Games in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and offers football, volleyball, floor hockey, badminton, tennis, athletics and basketball. Students and the local community joke that this is indeed a special school - a special sports school. They have good reason to think so too. The entire Special Olympics Russia men's volleyball team at the 2007 World Summer Games is composed of students from the school! Sergey has enjoyed sports since he was a child along with his three older brothers, who are all members of the country's Olympic volleyball team. Four years ago Sergey's history teacher and coach, Morshinin Ivan, noticed Sergey's talent for table tennis. He trained hard and competed in Special Olympics Russia National Games. Because he did so well, he was chosen to compete in his first Special Olympics World Games in China. This is Sergey's last year of school. Talking about the future, he is sure about one thing - there always will be sports in his life.     Special Olympics Russia Pavel Nahratov, Special Olympic athlete from Russia. Pavel Nahratov, Special Olympics Russia Special Olympics Russia athlete Pavel Nahratov, 17, enjoys all kinds of sports. For the last five years he's been concentrating all his energy on training and competing in table tennis. He's won gold medals in local, regional and national competitions. Competing at the 2007 World Games is an exciting first for him. Currently he is studying to be a technician at Agricultural College N82.   Special Olympics Russia Special Olympic Athlete Tatiana Kriskaya Tatiana from Russia Tatiana Krivskaya Tatiana, Special Olympics Russia Tatiana Krivskaya, 18, is a Special Olympics Russia table tennis player and one of the sport stars of the famous Bagryaniki boarding school N5 in the Yaraslavl Region. She came to the school when she was 10 and immediately immersed herself in sports. She trained in volleyball and cross country skiing, but was intrigued by table tennis and chose that as the sport to concentrate her time and energy. At the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland, she won three gold medals in mixed doubles, doubles and singles! Her coach, Morshinin Ivan, describes Tatiana as very strong-minded and confident. “She can be moody sometimes, but it only proves how much effort and dedication she has for competition,” he said. This year, Tatiana enrolled in the Gavrilov-Yanskiy Health and Beauty College to become a hair stylist. She is planning to continue playing sports on her college team and will visit her school in Bagryaniki as often as she can . “I hope to get as many gold as I can here in Shanghai. It would be fantastic to have a chance to go to the next Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2009, however, I would like to concede this opportunity to my younger school friend who is the best at her category,” she said. “I like sport and I like table tennis. When people ask me how I manage to achieve such a great results, I always say, 'I do great because I do what I really like and don't push myself against my will.'”   Special Olympics Ireland Special Olympic Athlete, Mary Blair of Ireland Mary Blair, Special Olympics Ireland Special Olympics Ireland table tennis athlete Mary Blair, 48, lives in Belfast. Ever since she moved into her New Town Abbey residence 11 years ago, she's been considered a local hero. She has been playing table tennis for almost 10 years. But she only started serious training for table tennis after she became a Snooker Champion at N. Ireland Cup and Cup of Republic of Ireland. At the 2007 World Games, Blair had to take time out after twisting her leg during the mixed double game with Holland team. Still, she was full of spirit and planning to continue training once she gets back home. In Belfast, Blair attends Health and Beauty College located at New Town Abbey and has many friends and admirers. Snooker is still her favorite hobby, and she loves to play and win games. Here in China, Blair has made many new friends with international athletes and local volunteers.   Special Olympics Morrocco Special Olympics athletes Yassine Hafid and Latifa Amzele of Morocco. Yassine Hafid and Latifa Amzele, Special Olympics Morocco Special Olympics Morocco athlete Yassine Hafid, 18, is a table tennis player from Casablanca. He started training in 2006 and already is considered the National Champion in his category. Lafifa Amzele, 21, also a table tennis player, is from Rabat and has been playing since she was 8. “Table tennis is an easy and happy game,” she said. Back home, she attends school at a health and beauty college. Together these athletes won a bronze medal in mixed doubles!     Special Olympics Team USA Schelly Porter, Special Olympics Team USA By Chantell Pires Schelly Porter claims to be the best bowler in the business. After all, she has been bowling for the past 15 years, and has won gold medals in competitions throughout that time. The 32 year old hails from Commerce, Texas (USA), and holds a special position on the team as the only female bowler from Texas. Schelly is friendly and sweet, introducing herself to students and faculty milling around the ballroom at a reception celebrating a successful Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. Schelly seemed to be a reporter herself, as she furiously clicked away on her digital camera, recording the amazing Shanghai experience for years to come. Upon arriving in Shanghai, Schelly was amazed at the sights and smells. She and two other contestants stayed with a host family in Shanghai, where they befriended an adorable puppy and enjoyed the culinary prowess of their hosts. Some of the foods that they encountered were definitively marked as “weird,” but Schelly was still enthusiastic to learn how to cook with her host family and then enjoy the delicious meals after. Special Olympics Team USA attended a performance in Pudong featuring various Chinese cultural dances and acts, but Schelly's favorite part - and most photographed part - was the act with a group of elementary school-age children. The 2007 World Games were a total success for Schelly and her teammates. She bowls in multiple divisions, including Team Bowling, Doubles Bowling, and Individual Bowling. She was quick to defend her claim of excellence in bowling - Schelly was awarded 5th place in Teams Bowling, 4th place in Doubles Bowling, and 2nd place in Individual Skills Of course, being in China for long can make one ache for the familiarity of home. While Schelly had a wonderful experience in Shanghai, she is really excited to leave for home soon, and plans to eat spaghetti and play a video game immediately. When asked if she'd touch Chinese food again, Schelly promptly proclaimed, “Never! But maybe garlic chicken…”