The 2010 Special Olympics National Summer Games - In Cory's Words

The National Summer Games was such a fun experience. I came back home with 2 Gold Medals (one individual and one team award). It all started when I found out at the end of August last year when I received the letter telling me I had qualified for the National Summer Games. I decided that I really wanted to do as well as I could so I joined a second bowling league in addition to the Special Olympics one - with older women and my team is called the Shellmont Beauties! - so that I could get more practice. In total, I played over 200 games from September to last May. Then the bowling season ended, so I started practicing 3 or 4 times a week on my own and once a week with my Team BC teammates and coach.

As part of my Team BC training program, I had to keep track of everything I ate and all my physical activity since last November in a daily journal which my coach reviewed with me every week. So I think by the time the Games started in July I was ready to do my best.

Then the Team BC uniforms arrived with a snazzy blue bowling shirt to wear during the Games. We were also given shorts, T-shirts, a jacket and a hat, and two bags to put it all in, all of them said "Team BC" on them. By then, I was getting really excited about it all.

We left Vancouver on the evening of Sunday, July 11, all of us wearing our Team BC jackets, shorts, T-shirt, and hat. We all flew together on two planes to Toronto and then we got on a bus to take us to London.

We rested the next day, played cards, unloaded our stuff, and got to know our new surroundings at the University of Western Ontario. It was great to find out that the food was very good with lots of choices. The Opening Ceremonies were at the University Stadium on Tuesday July 13. It was really exciting to walk into the stadium with over 200 other athletes from BC, all in uniform. I couldn't help but find my mum and dad in the bleachers since they were making so much noise and waving a huge BC flag.

The next day we practiced and I was terrible - I bowled 132 and my average is 209. So I was very nervous going into the real tournament the next day. My coach Judy helped calm me down though. It seemed to be a difficult bowling alley since the pins would wobble a lot but not fall down.

So then the tournament began the next day and I bowled 251 so I was much more confident and bowled 206 and 192, a little below my average. But my teammates were doing really well so our team had a very good first day overall.

Things started well the next day as I bowled 231 in the first game. But halfway through the second game, my score was only 60! I was getting anxious and confused and started to get angry, upset, and worried. Coach Judy talked to me again about the situation, she told me to slow down and take it easy. I then added 163 points to my score so by the end of the game, I had bowled 223. Phew!!

By now we had to two more games to play the next day before we'd know if we'd have a chance at a Team medal, and there were individual medals to be awarded after the two games. I bowled 247 and 226 and I thought I had a good chance for a medal, which is what I had wanted, of any colour. I don't know if my dad knew, but he wouldn't tell me. So I waited for the announcement.

They started with Division A, which was my division. They announced the Bronze Medal winner and it wasn't me. Then the Silver Medal winner and that wasn't me either. Then I'm thinking "is it me for the Gold, or no medal at all?". Then I heard my name and I RAN up to get my Gold Medal! I felt proud of myself, and I shook everyone's hands on the podium. I was so relieved that I had won a medal, and it was even a Gold one! I went back to my team and everyone wanted to see and touch the medal - especially my dad and mum.

We then found out that our team finished in first place in our division so we'd be bowling for Gold the next day. We went back to the University to play cards and relax. I was still pumped with energy and looking forward to the next day.

The next day we learned that we'd be playing one of the teams that beat us earlier in the week. I was feeling good and confident and I was bowling quite well, though my teammates were struggling a little. But then I punched the head pin in the 8th frame and again in the 9th (punching the head pin with the first ball makes it pretty much impossible to get a spare). I saw my opponent bowl a spare in the ninth frame so now I was nervous and started to look at the scores too much so I took a small break to rethink my next ball. I tried to relax and took longer than usual to throw my ball and then I threw a strike. I bowled 257 but I didn't know if that was enough for my team to win the Gold Medal.

When we found out we had won, I was excited with a weird feeling in my stomach. It felt pretty good and I sure was happy!

My team and I celebrated a bit with our families - we had a Dairy Queen ice cream cone, my dad's such a big spender - and then we headed back to the University to prepare for the Closing Ceremonies. We walked into an arena in uniform with music, some speeches, and a dance party. I danced a little and we partied until we had to leave to prepare for our return to Vancouver.

When we arrived in Vancouver the next morning, my mum, dad, aunt, uncle, and cousin were there to greet me at the airport and I was excited to see them all there. We had a cup of coffee together - I was desperate for a good cup of coffee - and we talked about the Games. I then went home and slept for most of the afternoon. Tired happy sleep.

What a great experience it all was. Maybe I'll be able to go again in 2012 for the Winter Games in Alberta, but first I have a lot of work to do and I'm already thinking about what I'll have to do to get there.

I want to thank my mum and dad, Coach Judy, and my relatives for all their support. It was especially nice to see my uncle and cousins from Montreal in London to cheer me on.

My next big event will be next March in Kelowna, BC, where I will compete in the BC Provincial Winter Games to try to qualify for the Nationals in 2012. I'm sure my dad will put it all in this blog!

Thanks everyone! And I enjoy reading your comments (you can use the anonymous option and just add your name in your message).