THUNDER BAY – David Johnston has a little added incentive at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.
After bowling a score of 353 in a practice round ahead of the start of competition on Wednesday at Galaxy Lanes, he made a friendly wager with his coach, Jack Walsh.
The Dawson Creek, B.C. native convinced Walsh to agree to first dye his hair pink and later shave it off in support of Special Olympics, if Johnston managed to bowl a score of 400 or better this week.
Walsh joked the friendly wager was just another way to motivate his athlete.
“I said I wanted to see him do that in the final competition on Friday,” Walsh said.
He wouldn’t have made the bet if he wasn’t willing to lose his hair, he added.
“He’s hitting the middle. If you hit the middle, anything’s possible. They’ve been practising hard and he’s got a good shot at it,” Walsh said.
Johnston, for his part, has been bowling for as long as he can remember and involved in Special Olympics for about 15 years.
He said he loves the sport because it pits him against the pins.
“You get to throw your ball down and get strikes. I always like getting strikes, but it’s OK if I get a spare or anything like that. It’s always a challenge to know how to walk and throw your ball,” said Johnston, a member of the Strike Force bowling team.
He said he’s feeling good about his chances this week.
“If you get 353, that’s probably about (50) away from 400, I’m not sure. I’m hoping to win a medal, to place somewhere, at least in the top three,” he said.
“My chances are pretty good, from what my coach tells me.”
The key to hitting his goal was the proper preparation and training ahead of the games, through the Special Olympics’ Club Fit program.
“It helped us get exercise, get fit and be ready to come to the competition, compete and be motivated to compete with everybody.”
So far, it’s been great, he added, of his experience with the city.
“The hospitality has been great. Everyone’s been treating us with respect,” Johnston said. “The bowling alley, their hospitality’s been good, and our hotel, with food and Team B.C. and all the provinces. We’re getting to know each other and treat each other with respect.”
The Games continue through Saturday at a variety of venues around Thunder Bay. Admission is free.
