Special Olympics Cayman Islands (SOCI) Aquatics Coach Penny McDowall was awarded coach of the year by Special Olympics Caribbean at their recently concluded annual business meeting held in Grand Cayman last week.
Coach Penny MacDowall |
Miss Penny, as she is fondly referred to by athletes and colleagues has been with the Special Olympics programme in the Cayman Islands for 10 years as Aquatics Head Coach. In that capacity she has trained athletes for participation in Special Olympics Competitions locally, regionally and internationally, having led teams to 3 World Summer Games. Moreover, she has supported her athletes to move on to participation in main-stream aquatics where they have been part of the National Team to represent the Cayman Islands at regional meets such as Carifta.
It is all of the extra effort that Miss Penny makes that more than qualifies her for this award. She is extremely supportive of her athletes providing tangible things such as transportation, sleepovers at her house and meals as well as the intangible like encouragement, understanding and interest in their daily lives. Her years as a Special Education teacher at the Lighthouse School gives a keen insight into the requirements needed to coach a developmentally challenged person, moreover, with two children of her own she is also proven very good at meeting the challenge of dealing with teenagers and young adults.
Miss Penny has been very instrumental in assisting with the Special Olympics Athlete Leadership programme, by giving athletes the opportunity to be ambassadors for Special Olympics. She assists athletes in practicing their presentations and very often attends the functions at their side when they represent SOCI.
Her colleagues agree that her persistent cheerfulness and go-getter attitude certainly make her a pleasure to work with. Whether it is leading the sing-along at the SOCI Christmas party or waking at 5 am to transport an athlete to a competition, Penny’s enthusiasm is contagious and her good nature makes each job go faster.
Miss Penny was Head of Delegation for the team which participated in the Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) National Games last month, returning with thirteen medals. This was a great opportunity for the athletes who will be traveling to China later this year for the World Summer Games to take part in a sort of preliminary meet as part of their preparation for Shanghai. ‘This collaboration between SOJ and SOCI is the type of thing that we want to promote within the Caribbean region. ‘comments Maxine Everson, Administrative Director of SOCI and a member of the Board for Special Olympics Caribbean. ‘This gives the athletes more opportunities to train and compete. We know that the World Games is every four years, but only a few of the 9000 athletes in the Caribbean will be able to attend those. By having regional, invitational meets such as this one, more athletes can benefit.’ The second Multi-Sport Caribbean Games will be held in 2009 – the first was held in Jamaica in 2004.
Then in October, Miss Penny will be Head Coach Aquatics for the team when they head to Shanghai for the World Summer Games. Both of her aquatics athletes, Andrew Smiley and Waide McLaughlin will be taking part in the Invited Athletes Competition at the World Games in Shanghai; this new programme provides additional challenges for athletes of proven high performance.
SOCI officials are very ‘pleased and proud’ to have Miss Penny’s contribution recognized throughout the region. ‘We have always been very aware of and grateful for her amazing energy and her commitment to the athletes and Special Olympics. It is just good that others now have a chance to know how proud we are of her.’ says SOCI Board Chairman Eric Crutchley.
With her usual enthusiasm Penny urges more people to volunteer for Special Olympics. ‘It is amazingly rewarding; essentially, when you become a volunteer, you are hooked, and you are a volunteer for life.’ She also expresses much thanks to Stingray Swim Club for their consistent support as well as her husband for his support and forbearance for the amount of time she spends on this passion. And of course, to the athletes, for the commitment and dedication to doing better every day.
Related Videos
