Special Olympics' stars tune up for world event

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

More than 800 Special Olympics Hawai'i Summer Olympics athletes competed in swimming, track and field, powerlifting and softball yesterday at the University of Hawai'i.

Murray Williams of Maui participates in the 50 yard freestyle event in the Special Olympics at the University of Hawai'i. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Thirteen Hawai'i athletes will be part of Team USA at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, said Noreen Conlin, development director for this year's 35th annual state games.

"We have swimmers and track and field athletes going," Conlin said. "They have been training for three months. They will be participating in events that are often longer and more taxing than the events they're used to. And they want to go and do their personal best."

Swimmer and 2002 Hawai'i gold medal winner Franz Knorr, 23, will be among those traveling to the World Games.

"I am going to go to Northern Ireland," Knorr said moments after competing in the 50-meter freestyle swimming competition.

Mililani resident Knorr, a swimmer who is competing in the 50-meter freestyle this weekend, said he is excited about traveling overseas and testing his skills against world athletes. But he added that he is particularly interested in checking out the Euro.

"I want to see what the money looks like," he said with a broad smile.

Knorr's mother, Trudy, said her son has been to Europe on two other occasions, "but never with the Special Olympics — so he's very fortunate."

"I think it has been beneficial for his physical, psychological and emotional well-being. We have a wonderful Special Olympics group in Hawai'i. It's very inclusive. Everybody is welcome. It's a fair playing field."

Joleen Reveira from Leeward, O'ahu, competes in the softball throw. Of the more than 800 participants yesterday, 13 will be part of Team USA at the World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity for these athletes," he said. "There are 160 countries represented, and 7,500 athletes will be there. So, we're honored and privileged to be part of it. Franz will be one of eight swimmers representing Hawai'i."

Burke's son Brian is a Special Olympics swimmer.

"He and Franz were classmates in high school," Burke said. "(Brian) didn't get picked to go to the World Games, but he has been practicing with the team anyway. He loves it. He wishes he could go to Ireland, but he's cheering for those who are going and is really happy for them."

There were special moments off the athletic field yesterday as well.

The Healthy Athletes Village, which was introduced last year to provide dental and eyesight exams for the athletes, was expanded this year to include hearing screening.

"The reason we're doing this is because there is a real high incidence of hearing loss in people with special disabilities," said Roma Johnson, a speech language pathologist/audiologist who was in charge of the screening program. "What we're finding is that about half the people we're seeing are being referred, because they need some kind of follow-up."

Johnson's screening room was equipped with four stations that tested such things as middle ear problems or an athlete's ability to hear high-pitched tones.

Rebecca Nickel, 18, of Kailua, who was wearing a silver medal she won in the 800-meter run, showed signs of hearing loss at one of the testing stations.

But by the time she finished, she had been given a clean bill of health.

"She's normal," said Kaiser audiologist Susan O'Shea, who screened Nickel at station 4. "She doesn't need further follow-up."

"It was fun," added Nickel. "It didn't hurt. I had trouble at the second table, but everything turned out OK."