Matt's Pit-crew

We entered Matt in the Special Olympics when he was in elementary school. Each spring brought the next competition, held at the high school in Radford, Virginia. Matt had a great pit-crew; Christopher, Jacob, Sarah, Tom and I. We all cheered at the top of our lungs for each event. Each year Matt was entered in several events; the softball throw, the 100 meter race, and the long jump.

Our first Special Olympics experience occurred on a cold day in April - Matt was about 8 or 9. We packed drinks and sandwiches and brownies into a cooler, dressed him warmly, packed the van and headed out. Matt had been practicing with his team at the school for weeks. Even though he had practiced, Matt was unsure of what to do and he was nervous. We gave him a pep talk and a rundown of what was going to happen including our prediction that he would win. Matt was excited about the possibility of winning. He hated losing – it made him feel less normal somehow. Matt believed every normal child to be, well, perfect. Matt needed to feel normal.

We arrived at the stadium before 8:00am, signed him in and got his T-shirt. Everyone scanned the program to find Matt’s events. We climbed the bleachers and took a spot halfway up, away from the crowd, but with a great view of the track. Matt was able to watch the other races and relax a bit before his own heat. After Matt saw where we would be, we escorted him over to his team for the opening ceremonies.

Opening Ceremonies

Each team was led around the track holding their school banner in front of them. The larger schools had a crowd of participants behind their banner. Sheffey Elementary, the small rural school where Matt attended, had 4 athletes and each had a hand on the banner. Our school had the smallest group of athletes. We knew Matt would have some big competition.

The athletes were divided by age groups which made the competition seem less overwhelming. There were only 5-10 athletes in his age group, giving each child a good chance of winning a ribbon or medal.

Event 1 – The Hundred Meter Dash

After the opening ceremonies we escorted Matt to the track area designated for the 100 meter dash. We took his coat as the coaches greeted him. They led Matt away to his spot on the starting line. This was a large group of athletes – at least 10, and Matt was one of the youngest. He took his spot at the second lane from the inside. Matt watched as an elderly man pointed a gun in the air, Matt’s hands immediately went to his ears in anticipation of the blast. BAM! And their off! Matt didn’t start at the blast because he was waiting for the sound but a split-second later he noticed everyone else running and he took off. The group had children with all different types of handicaps and the group spread was huge. Matt, a quick-footed little guy, soon passed the other children and fell in behind the leader. He crossed the finish line in second place. The winners circle was several feet from the finish line and Matt was escorted over, congratulated by the judges and ask to stand on the second place box. This upset him. He didn’t win. He hated second place. Tom’s photograph captured his disappointment. Of course, our gang jumped all around him, congratulating him on a job well done, but we all could tell that Matt was not happy.

We had a long break before his next event and returned to our place on the bleachers for a snack and drink. We watched the other race events. Matt ate a brownie and then wandered off away from us to be alone. His disappointment in himself was painful to watch. Sarah went down to him and tried to talk to him about other things, but Matt was replaying his defeat in his head and we all knew it. His support group would cheer even harder at the next event.

Event 2 – Softball Throw

This event was to see who could throw the ball the furthest. Three tries and the longest throw was the one that counted. The field where the event took place faced the direction of the river. We needed him to throw his best. Matt had a wonderful talent of pinpointing his trajectory. His head would bend to the side and tilt away. His gaze came from the corners of his eyes – a very autistic behavior. His first throw didn’t fly very far – his heart wasn’t in it. “Matt, the New River is over there. Remember in the movie Hot Shots! where the guy threw the rock and knocked over the people in the canoe?” Matt started laughing - it was one of his favorite scenes. “Aim for the river, Matt”. Each sibling caught on quickly to the reference. “Aim for the canoe!” and “Aim for the river!” was cheered repeatedly as Matt took his position on the throw line. Head to the side, eyes looking out the corners, Matt brought his arm back and then forward in a gallant throw toward the river. The ball flew as if it had wings. The distance was good enough for second place. Not one of his pit-crew members wanted a second place ribbon again, and we cheered harder, telling him to “throw to the river, Matt!” He laughed at the reference, easing his mind and giving him a goal – shoot for the river, knock over a canoe. Matt wound up for the pitch and threw. His last ball took flight making a beautiful arc straight toward the river. It went even further than the last – the first place medal goes to . . . Matt!

Now his confidence was high. He practically danced to the winner’s area and bounced to the top box. Tom’s camera caught a smiling and proud young man grasping the first place medal around his neck in one hand, his other stretched upward to the sky.

Event 3 – The Long Jump

Pumped up from the last event, Matt was confident that he could win the long jump too. The whole gang escorted him to the sandy pit where the jumpers were. Matt watched as each child from the youngest group attempted their jump. He watched as they ran from the start line and took flight at the jump line, landing in the sand. The distance was marked at the sandy footprints left behind. Each child received three tries. Then, the whistle blew announcing lunch time. Families, coaches and kids all headed for the lunch line. Not us. Matt wanted to practice, we wanted him to practice, so we all agreed to stay at the long jump area. Each sibling gave it a try, demonstrating their individual techniques, and Matt took it all in. We showed him the jump line. He had to be sure to jump just before the line. Taking off after the line would disqualify the jump. Matt practiced. Each leap was full force. Each landing was cheered and proclaimed a great attempt. We stayed there and practiced the entire lunch break. Matt’s age group would be the first to go after lunch.

Slowly the coaches and parents with kids in tow arrived back at the sand pit. The event was about to begin. All of us took a different spot to watch. Tom, camera at the ready, stood by the side of the sand pit. The boys took up positions at the end of the sand and Sarah staked out the jump line. I was at the start line with Matt, getting him mentally ready for his first attempt. Matt took off running and a foot from the jump line took flight. His body forward, determination on his face, he stretched his legs before him and landed in the sand. His body angle too severe, Matt fell backward, landing on his butt. The coaches measured his butt print. Matt’s face took on an immediate grimace. His confidence in himself took a nose dive. We gathered around. A pep talk on technique was put forth along with affirmation of his ability. We took our places. Matt ran down the track, jumped a foot from the jump line and stretched forward. His body angle was less severe and he landed on both feet and fell forward. Wow! Great jump. The coaches measured the jump and proclaimed Matt to be in the lead. We watched anxiously as the other kids jumped, each coming close to Matt’s distance, but not surpassing it. It was time for the last jump. Matt would try to leap from an area closer to the jump line. He raced down the track and leapt from just behind the jump line, his arms arcing forward, his legs pumping and landed gracefully in the sand. This jump was even further than his last. We cheered and patted him on the back. His smile was bright and gleaming. Matt had gotten the longest jump. The first place medal was his!

We returned home a triumphant group. Matt’s pit-crew was just as excited as he was over the events of the day and the conversation never waned on the trip home. Matt’s medals and his second-place ribbon went on the wall. He was disgusted that I would show off the red ribbon when clearly the medals were more important, but he allowed me to do it anyway.

What I am most pleased about and will always keep with me are the memories of the group - the cheers, the demonstrations of technique, the consoling when things didn’t turn out to Matt’s liking. The gang was one-for-all and all-for-one. There was never a complaint about the weather or the time spent in support of Matt. It was one of those family moments that you look back at fondly.

Matt outgrew Special Olympics when he entered high school. He didn’t wish to be perceived as different or special and we obeyed his wishes, but I can’t help but miss those days of competition. They were a team effort and we had the greatest of teams.