Tag Archives: #specialolympics

Special Olympics coach: Finding the best in every athlete and having lots of fun.

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In 2014, my husband Larry spent eight days in New Jersey as the New York State triathlon coach at the Special Olympics USA National Games, an experience he stated “incredible” and “life-affirming.” As soon as he arrived home, he tried to catch up on his sleep, as he got less than five hours a night for the entire trip. How he got to this nirvana of sleep deprivation is part of Shapiro family lore.

In 1995, Larry announced at the dinner table that he had signed up our family to volunteer at the New York State Special Olympics Summer Games, which were being held at the University at Albany in early June. Our children had been involved in sports for a long time, and Larry recognized that many volunteers had made their swimming, cross-country, and track and field meets possible. He felt the four of us should pay it forward by contributing our time to the intellectually challenged athletes at the state-wide event in the track and field competition.

We enjoyed our experience enough to sign up to volunteer again the following year. While at the games, Larry was asked to help out with the Saratoga County track and field program that met April to June at the Saratoga Springs High School track. Larry’s co-worker also volunteered, and the two of them drove up every Monday and Thursday from downtown Albany. After a couple of years, the two of them extended their time commitment to include helping at local Special Olympics meets.

As the years progressed, Larry took on more responsibilities. He became head coach and held additional practices for athletes who exhibited high levels of skill in an event. He started a cross-country running program, volunteered to coach for the Clifton Park bowling program, and conducted coaching certification classes. Larry knew that his involvement in Special Olympics would give him focus and purpose after he retired. It was shortly before his last day of work that he found out he had been chosen as one of the track and field coaches for the National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska, in July 2010. One of the athletes he coached came home with silver medals in the 1500 and 3000 meter runs. 

Along the way, Larry had convinced me and several friends to become track and field coaches, and we all gained much from our participation. The best part for all of us was being with the athletes at practice. Twice a week every spring, over forty athletes ranging in age from eightto seventy-five years old, several coaches, and numerous parents and group home staff would gather at six o’clock at the Saratoga High school track.  The athletes intellectual and physical challenges ranged as widely as their ages. Larry started everyone off with a team cheer: P-A-C-E-R-S! Then the activities began. On the field, some athletes threw softballs and had their distances recorded by the coaches. A group of stronger athletes worked with a coach on the turbo-javelin and the shot put. Others were practicing the standing long jump. On the track, athletes, depending on their levels and abilities, were taking part in runs, walks, and wheelchair events. The visually challenged ran twenty-five meters holding a baton strung through a rope that was held in a straight line by cheering teammates. Practice ended with Larry gathering up the athletes for one more cheer before they went home. Two or three times a season, coaches and members of the team took part in local competitions on a Saturday morning. Whether we were at practices or at our meets, our athletes’ times and distances were secondary to just having fun. The cheers were as loud for the athlete who threw the softball two meters as they were for the athlete who came in first in the 1500-meter run.

Larry took pride in the accomplishments of every athlete and was always recruiting new team members. While helping with Special Olympics bowling during fall 2013, Larry watched an athlete decimate the pins with his powerful swing. Larry persuaded Rob to join track and field and use that strength to throw shot-put and the turbo javelin. By the end of his first season, the athlete impressed officials at the state games in Buffalo enough for Rob to be chosen to compete in the Special Olympics national meet in 2014 in New Jersey. While there, Rob not only won a gold medal in his division in the shot put but also came home with gold in the turbo jab with the longest throw of anyone in the country in the turbo javelin finals.

Saying goodbye to the Pacers when we moved to Florida was one of our hardest moments. (In honor of our athletes, we have named the small body of water in our backyard “Pacer Pond.) But Larry didn’t stop there. A few months after our move, Larry signed on to be an assistant coach for the 2016 Osceola County Special Olympics track and field season. By 2017, he had his own team, and Larry and I spent our Saturday mornings from mid-January to mid-May with our athletes.  He applied all he had learned from his first fourteen years of coaching—the cheers, the participation of every athlete, and the fun. With the enthusiastic help of parents and guardians, every practice had plenty of helpers that made each practice productive. 

And just as he had done in Saratoga, Larry found the best in every athlete. Seeing Karissa had done okay in the 400meter run, he stretched her to the 800 and 1500 meter, resulting in her shining at States and securing places on national teams in Seattle (2018) and Orlando (2022). Christian had participated for years in running events, but Larry recognized he was better suited to the 400- and 800-meter walk, a change that resulted in many first-place finishes for this athlete. Jo-Jo, our visually challenged athlete, got to complete when Larry set up the same rope-and-baton trick he had used in Upstate New York. At practice and at States, cheers of “Jo Jo! Jo Jo! Jo Jo!” accompanied his run. 

Ernest  initially participated in the 100-meter run and the running long jump, in which he competed at States. Then he decided he wanted to do the shot put and the 400 meter run When Ernest was not selected for States in 2025, he took it upon himself to sign up as a volunteer at the games, where he was asked to work at the awards for the track events. When track and field started up again in January, Ernest chose to continue with the shot put but asked to be moved to the 800meter walk. Larry coached him in every event, changing his form and working with him to improve. Ernest was chosen for the 2026 States, where he competed in shot put (1st place) in his heat and the 800meter walk, where he placed first with the fastest walk of the day. Both Larry and Ernest received recognition for their efforts, with their being recognized as Osceola County’s Inspirational Coach and Inspirational Athlete, respectively, at this year’s State Games. 

After twenty-five years of coaching, Larry is hanging up his stopwatch at the end of this season. He absolutely loves his athletes, but he turned 78 in May. In addition, the January through May Saturday morning commitment has resulted in our missing too many of his grandchildren’s birthdays and trips to Colorado and California to see them. We both look forward to turning over the team to a younger coach who has assisted Larry this past year.

In April, the team gave Larry a beautiful team picture with the following note: “Thank you for your years of service, support, and friendship. All your athletes are better athletes and people because you didn’t just show up for them; you invested in them! Enjoy your second retirement! Love, Osceola SO Families.” We will treasure the picture and the note forever. 

Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew expression that means “repairing the world,” a moral principle that states every individual should leave this world better than he or she found it. I take pride in knowing that Larry’s involvement in Special Olympics has been his way of making the world better for so many athletes.

Special Olympics Saratoga
Larry on the track May 2026
Larry and Assistant Coach Jordan Potrzeba
Larry and Marilyn, Special Olympics coaches in Osceola Country, Florida

 

A Special Special Olympics Coach

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In 2014, my husband Larry spent eight days in New Jersey as the New York State triathlon coach at the Special Olympics USA National Games. He described his experience as “incredible” and “life affirming.” As soon as he arrived home, he tried to catch up on his sleep as he got less than five hours a night for the entire trip. How he got to this nirvana of sleep deprivation is part of Shapiro family lore.

Almost twenty years ago, Larry announced at the dinner table that he had signed the family up to volunteer at the New York State Special Olympics Summer Games that were being held at University of Albany in early June. My children had been involved in sports for a long time, and Larry recognized that many volunteers had made their swimming, cross country, and track and field meets possible. He felt the four of us should pay it forward by contributing our time to the intellectually challenged athletes at the state-wide event in the track and field competition.

We enjoyed our experience enough to sign up to volunteer again the following year. While at the games, Larry was asked to help out with the Saratoga County track and field program that met April through mid-June at the Saratoga Springs high school track. Larry’s co-worker also volunteered, and the two of them drove up every Monday and Thursday from downtown Albany. After a couple of years the two of them extended their time commitment to include helping at local Special Olympic meets.

As the years progressed, Larry took on more and more responsibilities. He became head coach and held additional practices for athletes who exhibited high levels of skill in an event. He started a cross country running program, volunteered to coach for the Clifton Park bowling program, conducted coaching certification classes, and served on various Special Olympic committees. Larry knew that his involvement in Special Olympics would give him focus and purpose after he retired. It was shortly before his last day of work that he found out he was chosen as one of the track and field coaches for the National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska, in July 2010. One of our athletes came home with silver medals in the 1500 and 3000 meter runs.

Along the way, Larry had convinced me and a number of friends to become track and field coaches, and we all gained much from our participation. The best part for all of us was being with the athletes at practices. Twice a week every spring, over forty athletes ranging in age from sixteen to eighty years old, several coaches, and numerous parents and group home staff would gather at six o’clock at the track.  The athletes ranged in age from eight to seventy-five, with their intellectual and physical challenges ranging as widely as their ages. Larry started everyone off with a team cheer P-A-C-E-R-S! Then the activities began. On the field, some athletes threw a softball and had their distances recorded by the coaches. A group of stronger athletes worked with a coach on the turbo-javelin and the shot-put. Others were practicing the standing long jump. On the track, athletes, depending on their levels and abilities, participated in runs, walks, wheel chair events. The visually challenged ran twenty-five to fifty meters holding a baton strung through a 50 meter rope that was held in a straight line by cheering team mates. Practice ended with Larry gathering up the athletes for one more cheer before they went home. Two or three times a season, coaches and members of the team participated in local competitions on a Saturday morning. Whether we were at practices or at our meets, our athletes’ times and distances were secondary to just having fun. The cheers were as loud for the athlete who threw the softball two meters as it was for the athlete who came in first in the 1500 meter run.

Larry took pride in the accomplishments of every athlete and was always recruiting new team members. While helping with Special Olympics bowling during fall 2013, Larry watched an athlete decimate the pins with his powerful swing. Larry persuaded Rich to join track and field and use that strength to throw shot-put and the turbo javelin. By the end of his first season, the athlete impressed officials at the state games in Buffalo enough for Rich to be chosen to compete in Nationals in New Jersey. While there, he not only won a gold medal in his division in the shot-put but also came home with gold in the turbo jab with the longest throw of anyone in the country in the turbo javelin finals.

Saying goodbye to the Pacers when we moved to Florida was one of our hardest moments.We follow their accomplishments on Facebook and through emails. In honor of our athletes, we have named the small body of water in our backyard “Pacer Pond.”

Tikkun Olam is a Hebrew expression that means “repairing the world,” the moral principal that states every individual should leave this world better than he or she found it. I take pride in knowing that Larry’s involvement in Special Olympics is his way of making the world better for so many athletes.

Freezin’ for a Reason

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FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON

I had always been intrigued by stories and pictures of polar plunges, where hundreds of smiling people clad in only their bathing suits head into a body of water in the middle of the winter. They say they are having fun. I never got it until I found myself diving into Lake George, water temperature around 50 degrees, on November 16. Crazy? Yes! Glad I did it? Double yes. Because I was “freezin’ for a reason.” I was raising money for Special Olympics Capital District.

Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics Capital District region provides year-round training and competitions to more than sixteen hundred athletes from twelve counties in fourteen different sports. For a number of years, Larry and I have been involved as Special Olympics track and field and bowling coaches.

We have also participated in Special Olympic fundraisers. One of the most popular and well known in the Capital District is the Polar Plunge, where hundreds of people plunge into Lake George on the third Saturday of November. In a moment of insanity, I had signed up and participated in the plunge in 2011. Within minutes of coming out of the water, I swore to anyone with ear shot that I would never do it again.

I am no scientist, but to me this is definite proof that humans have very short memories. Our schedule in 2012 prevented my doing it, and I was thinking of finding another excuse for 2013 until…..

In a second moment of insanity, I committed to rejoining Freezin’ Friends, a team of plungers headed by Joni Rhodes from Schuylerville. Her son Nick participates in several Special Olympic events, including our track and field program, and I again wanted to raise money to support athletes like Nick. In the middle of September, I began a fundraising blitz, mostly through emails and Facebook. The response was amazing. I had pledges from family and friends across the country and even from England. Most pledged on line, but many others handed me checks or cash, commenting “Better you than me!” and Boy, you are brave!” By the day of the plunge, our team had raised close to $5000, and the region total was approaching $77,000.

By this time, you would think that I would be mentally and physically ready to dive back into Lake George. I hadn’t died the first time; my heart had held out; I didn’t even catch a cold. But in the days before the plunge, I had nightmares about going into a freezing lake. In addition, this year I was going to finish what I had started in 2011. In my first year, most of my supporters congratulated me and praised my bravery for plunging up to my neck. However, a few people kiddingly questioned as if I had ever gone in the lake, as my hair was still dry and the water droplets on my body didn’t show well on the photos. This time, I was going to make sure that pictures showed a soaked bathing suit and a wet head so that no one would doubt my commitment.

We were very fortunate with the weather. The morning of the plunge was a beautiful, sunny, calm day, with air temperatures in the fifties. Larry and I stopped at the registration desk and then headed down to Shepard’s Park Beach. Over my bathing suit, I had flannel pants, a thermal shirt, my Polar Plunge sweatshirt, and a warm terry bathrobe. Under my water shoes were heavy woolen socks. I located our team by finding Joni in her traditional Dr. Seuss hat she has worn for each of the seven plunges in which she has participated. I recognized most of my teammates from 2011, a mix of Nick’s family, friends, and Special Olympics coaches. Om addition, a large group of students from Schuylerville High School had signed up for the fundraiser, bringing our team up to over thirty people. Joni provided all of the members of the team with a choice of colors in Santa hats.

Several other teams of plungers were also on the beach, including Max’s Buddies, Freeze Duchenne, and Brian’s Bashers, and the Siena men’s baseball team. We spent the next couple of hours munching on bagels, sipping hot coffee, taking pictures, and connecting with members of our team and the other plungers. Several were in costume: capes, polar bear hats, boas, and, in the case of one man, a skimpy beige bikini bathing suit. My Miley Cyrus look,” he explained.

At ten minutes before noon, all the plungers stripped down to their bathing suits and, shivering despite the warm sun, lined up to wait for the signal to hit the water. At exactly twelve noon, led by three athletes holding the Special Olympics torch, over five hundred and fifty crazies streamed into Lake George.

As my ankles hit the water, I faced my first obstacle. As our team was near the end of the line, we were going into the lake when the members of the Siena men’s baseball team were coming out. Fast. Blindly, with no concern for who was in their way, I darted through their hurling bodies until I found a clear spot in the water, took a deep breath, and dove in, orange Santa hat and all.

OH MY GOD! Why didn’t I remember it was this cold! I immediately thought of those poor people on the Titanic and had visions of Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack clinging onto the edge of the makeshift raft that held Kate Winslet’s Rose. I could not get out of the water fast enough. I ran onto the sand, hair and body dripping, searching desperately for Larry and, more importantly, my bathrobe and towel. As soon as I found him, I asked, “Did you get a picture?” Larry said yes, but there must have been ice in my ears, as I didn’t hear him and headed back into the water for a second totally unnecessary photo opportunity.

I have to say that it wasn’t as bad as the first time. Maybe the sun had warmed my body. Or I was so numb I couldn’t tell the difference. Larry took a couple of more pictures, and I was finally able to head for the women’s warming tent, where I quickly changed into dry clothes. We drove back to Clifton Park with the car’s heater going full blast.

Later that afternoon, Larry and I talked about the plunge over large bowls of steaming chicken and rice noodle soup at a local Chinese restaurant. “Next year, I need to wear a different bathing suit and a pair of shorts as those pictures I posted on Facebook are just too embarrassing,” I said. “And maybe if I start earlier, I can raise more money.”

Larry nodded, “Let’s just see what happens with our schedule next year.”

A final note: Larry has yet to sign up to plunge, citing several reasons why it should not be a joint effort: He needs to be on the shore to hold my bathrobe and towel. He needs to take pictures. He needs to drive me home as I will be too cold to drive myself. He doesn’t want to take away from “my” event. Maybe he has more common sense than the rest of us, or maybe he just doesn’t know how to have fun.

First published in Jewish World, 11/21/2013