Saluting the Games

Harv Potts says the Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games are about taking the “dis” out of disability.

The 27-year-old speed skater said the Games are as much about camaraderie and making new friends as they are about winning medals.

“You’re committing to do your best, so when you go home you can say, ‘I really gave it my best shot, the best I could ever do, and I’m happy with what I did, whether I’ve got a medal or not,” said Potts, sporting a black cowboy hat and taking the time to introduce himself to anyone who happened by.

“You can take great pride in what you do when you go all out … It’s about making the memories. A lot of people may say it’s all about competing for higher standards, but it’s not. A true champion is about humbling yourself.”

The Markham native started his athletic career skiing and playing hockey, but made the switch to speed skating in his late teens. Though he got his first “taste of glory” in track and field, his current sport has taken him to new heights.

Potts just missed earning a berth at the 2005 World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, coming up short at the National Special Olympics Winter Games in Charlottetown the year before. He had similar results in Quebec four years later.

He hasn’t given up on the worlds just yet.

“It’s all about persistence. So if you keep working at it, you’ll reach your goal. My dream, before I retire in the next 10 years or so is hopefully to get a gold at worlds,” he said.

And if it doesn’t happen, he’s OK with that too. He is just happy to compete.

“Special Olympics is a really good organization, and what a great way to show the abilities of people with disabilities,” he said.

Timmins speed skater Samantha LeBlanc, 20, said she’s a little nervous about competing in Thunder Bay, but mostly because of a knee injury that hampered her training.

“I’m not sure how it will go, but I’m hoping it will go well,” she said

A former figure skater, she said speed skating held more of an allure when she decided to take it up a few years back.

“I like the rough feel about it. It feels good to start racing against people. It feels like I can actually do something, and if I win a medal, it feels good,” she said.

Southampton’s Jeremy Kranenburg, one of several athletes who had never been on a plane before Thursday, said he’s looking forward to all aspects of the Games, which will see competition take place on Friday and Saturday at a number of venues throughout Thunder Bay.

“It will be fun and good competition and I can have fun with friends and family who are going to be here,” said Kranenburg, who will skip the Region 4 curling squad.

A total of 14 Thunder Bay athletes are expected to compete this weekend, with more than 360 expected in town from across Ontario.

Organizers say the Games have taken plenty of effort to put on, but say now that all the hard work is done, it’s all about the athletes.

However, they are hoping the cold weather doesn’t put a damper on the outdoor sports, which include cross-country and downhill skiing and snowshoeing.  Environment Canada is calling for a high of -21 C on Friday, and just three degrees warmer on Saturday.

City special events developer Paul Burke on Thursday said if temperatures drop below –25 C with the wind chill, outdoor events will have to stop until the temperature rises again.
This could result in events being delayed, heats being cancelled and other modified events, he said. Burke added they’re hoping to avoid a worst-case-scenario that sees an event cancelled altogether.

“That’s something that we don’t want to see and we’re hopeful that it warms up. I don’t think we’ll get to a case where we’re looking at the events being cancelled outright,” Burke said.
At the very least he said events will probably be staged in a modified fashion.

Games manager Julie Tilbury said she and other organizers have been discussing the weather, but they’ll just have to wait and see what it brings. But she was optimistic the warm weather would be there when athletes compete.

"I’ve already ordered good weather so don’t worry about it," laughed Tilsbury.

Admission is free for the public to watch, with competitions scheduled for most of the day on Friday and Saturday at the Tournament Centre, Kamview Nordic Centre, Mount Baldy Ski Area and the Fort William Curling Club.

 
- With files from Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com