Sunshine Coast swim coach Marie Telder is gearing up for this year’s Special Olympics in Los Angeles, July 25 to Aug. 2.
“It’s a thing that not very many people get to do in their entire life, it’s a life experience,” Telder said. “These athletes have worked so hard – so hard. Some of them are swimming six, seven, eight times a week on top of training physically.”
In addition to swimming, the athletes are training in gyms and outdoors, as well as doing nutritional and mental training for their regimen.
Seven thousand athletes worldwide will be in LA for the Special Olympics with 164 on Team Canada.
Telder applied to coach the Team Canada swimmers after coaching at the provincial and national levels.
“I learn a lot going to all these games,” Telder said. “I’m super excited to go to LA. I’m so excited to meet coaches and athletes from other countries.”
She said it will open up professional connections, as well as introduce different coaching techniques that she can bring back to the Sunshine Coast.
According to Telder the biggest difference between the Olympics and the Special Olympics is funding. While the Olympics are primarily funded through government, the Special Olympics are almost entirely funded through private donations.
However, the training is pretty much the same.
“Every coach coaches to a person’s ability,” Telder said. “I don’t think any coach would coach to a person’s lesser ability.”
Follow Team Canada at www.teamcanada.specialolympics.ca
