Bringing home the gold!
Special Olympics New Mexico is now home after a victorious week in Orlando, Florida, for the U.S.A Games. When they returned home, the athletes were greeted with a warm welcome at the Gladiators game and at a McDonald’s in Rio Rancho.The team won 23 medals: six gold, seven silver and 10 bronze.Erin Stalf is one of the athletes who competed in swimming and brought home the gold.”The 50 freestyle and then the 100 freestyle and then the 4 by 25 relay freestyle,” Stalf said. But winning that medal was not easy. She had to compete against other athletes from around the country.”All of the delegates that were competing against her in her division were seconds to milliseconds, faster or slower than her,” said her mom, Carla Stalf.Mom was by Erin’s side the entire time. She said, years ago, she was told this moment may never happen.”When we found out she had a disability. the doctor didn’t think that she would be able to do very many things,” Carla said. “I have always told her, you have more obstacles than most. It’s my job to give you every opportunity to overcome them.”Each member of Team New Mexico proved that they can do anything they put their heart to and proved their disability will never hold them back. “It gives them it gives them the chance to feel needed, wanted and and appreciated for just being who they are and what they can do,” Carla said.All they need is a little help, hope and someone to believe in them.
Special Olympics New Mexico is now home after a victorious week in Orlando, Florida, for the U.S.A Games. When they returned home, the athletes were greeted with a warm welcome at the Gladiators game and at a McDonald’s in Rio Rancho.
The team won 23 medals: six gold, seven silver and 10 bronze.
Erin Stalf is one of the athletes who competed in swimming and brought home the gold.
“The 50 freestyle and then the 100 freestyle and then the 4 by 25 relay freestyle,” Stalf said.
But winning that medal was not easy. She had to compete against other athletes from around the country.
“All of the delegates that were competing against her in her division were seconds to milliseconds, faster or slower than her,” said her mom, Carla Stalf.
Mom was by Erin’s side the entire time. She said, years ago, she was told this moment may never happen.
“When we found out she had a disability. the doctor didn’t think that she would be able to do very many things,” Carla said. “I have always told her, you have more obstacles than most. It’s my job to give you every opportunity to overcome them.”
Each member of Team New Mexico proved that they can do anything they put their heart to and proved their disability will never hold them back.
“It gives them it gives them the chance to feel needed, wanted and and appreciated for just being who they are and what they can do,” Carla said.
All they need is a little help, hope and someone to believe in them.
