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Katelyn Bouse, Team USA, competing in the 500m time trial final of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [Photo by Alan Betson, IRELAND OUT] |
This is a World Games of many firsts: the first time a Summer Games has taken place outside the United States, the first time many athletes have been chosen to compete, and thus to travel outside their native country...
So when Katelyn Bouse, from Florida, was assigned the number 001 shirt, maybe she was destined for something notable too. The 14-year-old from Team USA was the first athlete to step on to the track to compete in cycling in the World Games. Not only that, she won a medal.
Bouse’s parents, Connie and Michael, are here to cheer her on. Her whole family is ordinarily situated around the track to give her support and encouragement. Her two older brothers and sister were hoping to make the trip to Ireland with their parents, but that wasn't possible. “All the family has been part of her progress,” Connie said. She explained how cycling plays a big part in the family’s recreation, and how Katelyn started out in the baby seat on the back of her parent’s bikes. “This provided the balance, but the concept of turning the pedals took a while to develop. This eventually clicked into place during a physiotherapy session when they tried her on a bike,” said Connie Bouse.
‘‘In a way she has been training since she was four,” Bouse smiled.
“I was awesome out there,” Katelyn announced to the gallery as she bounded up to meet her parents. “I did good, I smoked my tires.”
Everyone helped her on her way. Pro Cycles from her hometown gave her a custom-made bike, her coach Henry trains her each week and Bill Butler from her school takes her out doing laps during her school term.
Mark Ryan wrote the original article this profile was based on; it appeared in The Games Gazette, the official newspaper of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
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