The first US team to compete in an INAS-FID world-championship event huddles at JFK airport for a team picture.
July 22, 2009
Three US athletes with intellectual disability were selected to represent the US in the Global Games held in Liberec, Czech Republic July 5 – 14. Nearly 1,000 elite athletes from 40 countries competed for gold, silver and bronze in seven sports. This was the first time a team from the US participated in a world championship for athletes with intellectual disability.
Syd Lea (left) pictured with the gold and bronze medalists from Portugal and Australia respectively, won 5 medals including the silver for his 2nd place overal standing in the 5-day cycling competition.
Cyclist Syd Lea of Taneytown, MD competed in a five-day stage race that included three time trials and two road races earning three silver and two bronze medals, as well as finishing second in the overall general classification to world champion Leandro Santos from Portugal.
Lea had especially impressive results in both road races. In the 30km race he stormed past a rival Czech cyclist, who finished third overall in the competition, in the last 300 meters before the finish line to claim the silver medal. In the 60km road race Lea road a tactically perfect race staying in small group until the final 5km when he made a strong move to drop them and stay away through the finish to wrap up both silver on the day and second in the overall.
Swimmers Maria D'Andrea and Gail Morning had high rankings and PRs.
“I raced really hard and for one time trial was really sick and tired from jet lag. I did what my coach told me on the short road race and rode it like a cyclocross race, as hard as I could go for the whole race. I wanted to win medals and did. Next year I want to beat Leandro and be world champion,” said Lea.
Swimmers Maria D’Andrea and Gail Morning competed in the four-day world championship meet that was dominated by the Australian, South Africans and British swim teams. D’Andrea scored impressive top ten finishes in the 800 Freestyle and 200
Freestyle and both swimmers had personal bests in the majority of the 10+events in which they competed over four days. To compete in the championships the US swimmers had to meet difficult qualification times as well as adjust their swimming from a 25-yard to a 50-meter pool.
US Global Games Swim Coach Karen Fisher prepared the athletes well for the transition from 25 yd to 50m length.
Swim coach Karen Fisher said, “This was an excellent experience for the girls. They’ve seen what elite level international competition looks like and had their first ever races in a 50-meter pool. They dealt with the pressure of competing against the best in the world very well. To turn in so many personal best times as well as two top ten finishes shows the potential we have
to build a swimming program that can challenge for medals.”
The trip was organized by Athletes Without Limits, the USA Federation of Elite Athletes with Intellectual Disability. “We formed Athletes Without Limits to develop and support elite athletes with intellectual disability. Bringing a small team to the Global Games was a good first step and the athletes and coaches performed well despite a very short time frame for preparation and no national level support.” said founder Barry Holman.
Richard Murby accompanied the team as both assitant cycling coach and filmographer.
“We look forward to building our program to provide the same level of support and opportunities that Paralympians and Olympians receive so that athletes with intellectual disability can develop to their full potential and bring home medals and world championships.”
The results of all the competitions including video, photos have been posted at www.globalgames09.com while a list of news coverage is being posted on the Athletes Without Limits website.
