TERRE HAUTE — Special Olympics Indiana Marshall & Starke Counties is sending over 30 athletes to Terre Haute to compete in the annual Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games. Athletes will compete in track and field, swimming, team bowling, and powerlifting. Athletes have been practicing their sports for over eight weeks.
Track Athletes coached by Noel Soria, Sonja Soria, and Rhonda Owens will compete in running events ranging from the 50m dash to the 1500m run, as well as walking events up to 800m walk, and field events such as the softball throw, mini-javelin, shot put, standing long jump, and running long jump. We also have athletes competing in the 4X100m relay.
Swimmers, coached by Lori Simpson and Geoel Simpson, will compete in medley events from individual to relay. They will also compete in backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle races. In some of the relay events, there are Special Olympics athletes paired with unified partners for these races.
The bowling teams are coached by Elizabeth Polstra and Bobby Hodge. Bowlers paired up with a teammate and will bowl at Vigo Bowling Alley in doubles competition.
Powerlifters are coached by Eric Keen and Justin Parker. Athletes will compete in bench, deadlift, squat, and combination. Many powerlifters have been practicing since January.
Summer Games is an opportunity for those with intellectual disabilities to highlight their abilities to compete in a sport that they practiced for over 8 weeks. Athletes will stay on campus at Indiana State University and Rose Hulman for 3 days while they compete in their sports. Some of the non-competition highlights are the Opening Ceremonies, Healthy Athletes, and, of course, Olympic Town. Over 2,000 Special Olympics athletes from across the state will travel to Terre Haute this weekend to compete.
