ORLANDO, Florida — Kaua‘i Special Olympics athletes, their unified partners and coaches are part of Team Hui O Hawai‘i that had a productive second day at the Special Olympics USA Games at Disney World in Florida.
Leona Sa McDermott, one of the Kaua‘i Special Olympics coaches accompanying the Kaua‘i athletes to the national games, said Randelle Lee finished with a silver medal in bowling singles on Tuesday. Carleen Yamamoto followed with a bronze medal in the division, and Lisa Laureta finished with a six-place ribbon.
“Let’s continue to cheer our Kaua‘i athletes in Florida,” said Sa McDermott in an email.
Their next competition will be unified bowling.
Action from the Kaua‘i athletes is not limited to the competitive arena.
Kaua‘i High School athlete Kaylynn Gantt-Yangco and her Unified Partner Marissa Matsushige were joined by their mentor and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School special education instructor Amanda Fretto in participating in a leadership conference at the national games.
“The trio are also volunteering and helping out around the games,” Sa McDermott said.
“They are sharing ideas and thoughts with other athletes from around the country, and are also building their leadership skills through various experiences such as job shadowing young adults involved in Special Olympics leadership roles. They do ‘Story Telling,’ which will be learning interviews and media skills, volunteering with young athletes, and working at the Fun Zone promoting unified activities,” she said.
From now through Sunday, the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games unite more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean, along with 20,000 volunteers and 125,000 spectators during one of the country’s most-cherished sporting events.
“We all have reasons to shine,” Sa McDermott said. “For Special Olympic athletes, one of those reasons is the love of sport. Special Olympics athletes display remarkable abilities not only on the field, but in all areas of life. By celebrating their dedication and perseverance, we become champions for a more-inclusive world — a world where we all shine as one.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
