Olympians extinguish torch for another year

‘You can come here and be totally accepted’

By Darla Slipke - newspress

Kelsey O’Halloran was reluctant to leave the Oklahoma State track after closing ceremonies for the 2009 Special Olympic Summer Games Friday morning.

“I don’t want to go,” she told volunteers and friends who were standing along the fence. “It’s like family. Every year I feel like family.”

Athletes, volunteers, coaches, family and friends gathered at the OSU track for closing ceremonies before breaking up to go home, or to finish competing or cheering for athletes who had events later that day.

As the crowd dispersed and events started back up, “We are a Family” played on speakers.

Stillwater athlete Julie Miller, 49, skipped closing ceremonies to help coach the softball throw. She moved up and down the sidelines on her motorized power chair with a “Julie’s Harley” tag on the front, keeping track of competitors and their performances and yelling words of encouragement to friends.

She said a highlight of this year was seeing the cheerleaders from Enid perform during opening ceremonies.

Miller said she hoped cheerleading would become an event in the future.

It was also nice to see her friends, Miller said.

Some of them came from Woodward to Stillwater for the festivities.

“It’s been a great three days and everything, and I’ve had fun,” Miller said.

O’Halloran, 35, stuck around for a while after the closing ceremonies to talk to old friends or new friends and to support her fellow athletes before heading to her favorite Stillwater restaurant for lunch.

O’Halloran hasn’t missed a summer games since she was 8. She placed first in doubles bocce and second in singles bocce this year, and she wore her medals around her neck Friday.

“I love everything,” O’Halloran said. “I love opening ceremonies, meeting new friends, seeing my family ... I love everything.”

Shelley Mitchell, a family member who came to support O’Halloran, said the atmosphere was fun and festive, as always. She was hooked after watching her first opening ceremony years ago.

Several years ago when O’Halloran was being honored as Olympian of the Year, the torch was lit with a flaming arrow.

O’Halloran and Mitchell were sitting on the field and the arrow shot right over their heads, Mitchell said.

Another year, someone rode out on the horse Bullet and fell off. Mitchell said you could hear a collective gasp from the audience, and then a giant sigh of relief and applause when the rider stood up from the fall.

“It’s like a big, huge family,” she said. “You can come here and be totally accepted.”

Thousands of athletes compete each year, including about 4,300 athletes ranging in age from 8 to 84 this year, but the community is tight-knit. During this year’s opening ceremony, images from last year’s games were displayed during a presentation.

Mitchell said athletes were pointing at the images and identifying the athletes in them by name.

“Everyone knows everyone,” Mitchell said. “It’s amazing.”

Nancy McChesney, coach of the Okmulgee County Sharks, said that spirit of community sets Special Olympics apart from other athletic events. She said watching parents and volunteers cheer for the athletes and support one another is inspiring. McChesney was honored during closing ceremonies as Coach of the Year.



She first got involved with special Olympics as a hugger, and has been involved since before her son, who is now 22, was a baby.

Six years ago,

McChesney started working as a coach. She started with a team of five swimmers. This year, she coached 83 athletes in seven sports.

“I’ve always enjoyed sports, and this was just a good group of athletes to work with,” McChesney said. “They’re very much a blessing in my life.



Organizers recognized some notable people:

• Athlete of the Year: Matt Huggins, Oklahoma City

• Spirit Award Winner: Tosha Nutt, Enid

• Family of the Year: The Horton Family — John, Kim, Jennifer and Kalynn — Broken Arrow

• Coach of the Year: Nancy McChesney, Okmulgee

• Volunteer of the Year: Jim Oldroyd, Bartlesville

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