Sutton finds sport lifts more than just weights
Chaka
Sutton, head powerlifting coach for Team USA, has been
lifting weights for more than 20 years, starting in high
school. In addition, he has served as speed and conditioning
coach for high school and college football players, including
several future NFL players.
 |
| Head Coach for powerlifting Chaka Sutton put on a leprechaun outfit in preparation for the 2003 World Games in Ireland. |
However,
nothing lifts his spirits like working with Special Olympics
athletes. "Special Olympics athletes – their eyes are wide open," he said. "When
I see an athlete lift five pounds more than they did
the last time or see someone come from Point A to Point
B and advance on to Point C, it's great."
Sutton
has been involved with Special Olympics for about 18
years in Mississippi, Tennessee and Colorado, where he
is Area Director of the Foothills Area. He served as
the head golf coach from Colorado in 1999, assistant
snowshoeing coach in Japan in 2005 and Colorado's head of delegation for the National Games in 2006. He also is involved in Colorado's golf and tennis programs.
He
is looking forward to seeing his powerlifters "compete to their highest capabilities and have fun. We (Sutton and his six assistant coaches) will have more concrete goals and expectations of them after we go through the Training Camp (in July)."
Since
he is a lifter himself, Sutton believes that helps with
his interaction with the athletes. "I explain to them that I do lift and I'll show them the lift and they will see that here's a guy who's just not talking, he knows what he's doing,"
In
fact, Sutton was a Unified Partner with athlete Erin
Holloway for four years. "I still work with some of the same athletes that I started with 11 years ago. I have seen them all grow physically, socially and emotionally," he said.
"They give back to me that ‘Thank You,' " he said. "They will always show you the gratitude that you may or may not deserve. But they show you the gratitude for taking the time and working with them."
Joe Conway dives into swimming whole-heartedly
 |
| Joe Conway is shown in his backyard on the diving board receiving his award from his family's Special Olympics backyard swimming program. |
Joseph
Conway of Minnesota is ready to dive into the World Games
aquatics experience, just as he has jumped headfirst
into Special Olympics.
Joe,
17, has been involved with Special Olympics for seven
years, competing in basketball, floor hockey, softball
and athletics. However, aquatics is far and away his
favorite sport and freestyle and butterfly are his favorite
strokes.
Joe
is one of five children, including his twin John, adopted
by Sandy and John Conway.
In
fact, swimming is a family affair for the Conways, who
run a summer Special Olympics aquatics program in their
backyard pool. With Team USA assistant aquatics coach
Keanne Cameron, the Conways have offered a program for
two age groups of swimmers for seven years.
When
he's not helping out at the family pool, Joe's summer is full working as a lifeguard at three different pools in and around Minneapolis/St. Paul. Joe admits the test to become a certified lifeguard was tough, but something he was committed to accomplishing.
And,
it's a job he takes very seriously. "I watch the kids, make sure they follow the rules and have to be strict – their lives are in your hands," he said. He said he never has had to save a swimmer's life, but has had to help many of them down out of the slides.
Joe
is an accomplished diver who began club swimming at age
8 and competes on his high school's adapted swimming team. He does 11 dives, with the hardest being 21/2 somersaults. In fact, he has competed at All-Conference two years in a row, finishing 26th out of 34 this year.
Joe
is excited to represent Team USA at the World Games in
China, competing in the 200-meter individual medley,
100-meter butterfly and 100-meter individual medley.
<<
Last Page |
