Gold hunt!
GRAZ, Austria — The members of the Jamaica delegation here at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be watching with fingers crossed as compatriot Dave Oddman races for gold in the 222-metre ice speed skating event at the ice rink stadium.
Up to press time yesterday, the division list to show the line-up of athletes he will be facing was not available. Nonetheless, Jacqueline Bennett, the speed skating coach, held an optimistic view.
“I think Dave should have a good chance of getting the gold medal, or if not, to win a different medal,” Bennett told the
Jamaica Observer yesterday.
“So far we’ve done all that we can in terms of preparation. We are not sure what the line-up is like, so we hope for the best tomorrow. We are getting his mind together so he can execute as we need him to.”
At the Special Olympic Games, organisers hold preliminary skating races to assist in placing competitors in divisions where they are able to face opponents of similar strength.
“Based on the division, I’m figuring more or less that he’ll be in a category where people will be doing the same, and hopefully he can edge out those that are there,” added Bennett.
Oddman is set to contest the 333m event tomorrow.
Special Olympics Jamaica’s other competitor, Romaine Austin, is slated to vie for gold in the 333m and 500m events, but he is expected to be in a tougher division due to registering relatively quick times during the preliminary races days ago.
“I’m also looking at Romaine to medal because in the divisioning race he looked pretty good on the ice, and so I’m looking for a medal from Romaine. However, he’ll be in a stronger division, I’m pretty sure about that, but we don’t yet know what country will be in his division,” Bennnett told the Observer.
The Special Olympics movement empowers people with intellectual disabilities by promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect across the world.
The aim is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with these disabilities.
The disabilities can either be acquired or genetic, and can include cases of Down’s syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury.
— Sanjay Myers