COMBERMERE – Special Olympics Canada celebrates 50 years this year, and one local athlete has been with the organization since its beginning.
50 years ago this month, the Special Olympics began in Canada. That same year, athlete Rose Baxter began her association with the games. She began her involvement with the organization by participating in track and field events when she was just 11-and-a-half years old. She has been a rock steady participant, promoter, and ambassador for the games ever since.
The Valley Gazette caught up with Rose and her sister Catherine Baxter at one of Rose’s favourite breakfast places, The Old School Café in Combermere. During the conversation, they recounted several stories of how the Special Olympics had positively impacted Rose and the Baxter family.
At the games Rose initially participated in back in 1969, the crowd cheered her on as she was on pace to take the gold in a sprinting event. Another participant was coming up behind her, on track to finish second; that girl tripped and fell. Rose, in a heroic act of sportsmanship, gave up her first place position to stop and help up the other girl. They crossed the finish line together, dead last.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the May 29 Valley Gazette or subscribe online.
About the Author
(Might wanna change the world “sold” to “old”)
You are a great champion on and off the track Rose!
Rose’s story reminds me of a poem that I read aloud to my Beaver Colony quite a few years ago at an Olympics themed sleepover that we had in Petawawa when I was a Leader with Scouts Canada’s youngest youth section.
9 Gold Medals
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The athletes had come from so many the countries
To run for the gold and the silver and bronze
Many weeks and months in training
All building up to the games
All round the field spectators were gathered
Cheering on all the young women and men
Then the final event of the day was approaching
The last race about to begin
The loudspeakers called out the names of the runners
The one hundred metres the race to be run
And nine young athletes stood there determined
And poised for the sound of the gun
The signal was given, the pistol exploded
And so did the runners on hearing the sound
But the youngest among them stumbled and staggered
And he fell on his knees to the ground
He gave out a cry of frustration and anguish
His dreams and his efforts dashed in the dirt
But as sure as I’m standing here telling the story
Now it’s a strange one, but here’s what occurred
The eight other athletes stopped in their tracks
The ones who had trained for so long to compete
One by one they turned round and came back to help him
And lifted the lad to his feet
Then all nine runners joined hands and continued
The one hundred metres reduced to a walk
And the banner above that said “Special Olympics”
Could not have been nearer the mark
That’s how the race ended, nine gold medals
They came to the finish line holding hands still
And the banner above and nine smiling faces
Said more than these words ever will
Said more than these words ever will
– David Roth