Competitors gain new friends, new confidence
Callie Sullivan let out a victorious "Yes!" after her ribbon-winning performance in the Special Olympics soccer dribble game.
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"I was looking forward to the soccer dribble the most. I've done it before," said Callie, a Greenbrier Elementary School pupil. "The long jump is next. Let's go!"
Callie was one of about 195 athletes from 15 Columbia County schools competing in the Special Olympics on Friday at Greenbrier High's stadium.
"It's fun. An absolutely fun day where they are making friends with their peers and meeting students from other schools," said Candy Padgett, a Special Olympics coordinator. "They are competing against them, but they are also making friends with them."
Greenbrier High School Special Olympian Jessica Feehley crosses the finish line first in the 50-meter run during the Special Olympics.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Callie's mother Robin Sullivan agreed.
"She's able to get out and compete in all these sports where there is really not a lot of pressure," Sullivan said. "She roots on all the kids and gets so excited to see her classmates play. She's been so pumped up this week about it."
The Special Olympics is for intellectually impaired pupils.
Winners of Columbia County's Special Olympics competition will go on to compete in area and state games. The region games will be March 31 at Fort Gordon.
The games included the tennis ball throw, bat for distance, basketball slam dunk, kick for distance, running long jump, softball throw, kick and score soccer, soccer dribbling and various races.
Physically impaired students have their own Paralympics, which will be April 16 at Evans High School. For the first time, this year's Paralympics will involve Richmond and Columbia county athletes. About 40 orthopedically and visually impaired pupils will compete in those games.
DeMarkus Beard from Brookwood Elementary participates in the Soccer Dribble event at the Columbia County Special Olympics at Greenbrier High School.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Ricky Williams, a special olympian from Greenbrier Elementary School, smiles as he collects his first place ribbon for the Soccer Dribble competition at the Columbia County Special Olympics.
Photo by Jim Blaylock