Australia sends largest ever team to Special Olympics World Winter Games

Alpine skier Lauren Kooyman says her competition gear makes her feel like a superhero. From the helmet protecting her ears, to the goggles, skis, and ski poles, the 31-year-old athlete has never felt so ready to make her debut at the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

“I’m very excited, and I’m sure I’ll enjoy the experience,” Kooyman said enthusiastically. She has a solid foundation in skiing. Her grandfather was a cross-country skier, and her family has been skiing abroad regularly since she was four years old.

“I used to ski with kids my age and go to ski school every year,” Kooyman recalled. Her family probably didn't imagine that this love would eventually lead her to Turin, Italy, for the World Winter Games, which will open this weekend. Australia has sent 14 athletes to the Games, with Kooyman being one of the six female athletes. She qualified after winning the national competition last July, which came as a very pleasant surprise to her.

“I’m very honored and lucky to have been selected to represent Australia,” Kooyman said proudly. Like all Special Olympics events, this year’s World Winter Games are for athletes with intellectual disabilities. 1,500 athletes from 102 countries will compete in eight sports: alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing, snowboarding, speed skating and dance sport. Australia will participate in alpine skiing and snowboarding, both of which will begin on March 11.

“I hope to win a gold medal,” Kooyman said. "But even if I don't get a medal, I just want to cherish this opportunity and do my best." She is also looking forward to cheering on her teammates, such as Craig Muhlbock, who will be showcasing his skills in snowboarding. "I'm happy to be part of the team and be a good team supporter," Kooyman said.

The World Summer and Winter Games are the flagship events of the global Special Olympics movement, and like the Olympics and Paralympics, the Summer and Winter Games alternate every two years. Craig Muhlbock has represented Australia in soccer at two Special Olympics World Summer Games, but this week snowboarding will be the focus for the 40-year-old athlete.

As a veteran of the sport, Craig Muhlbock will be representing Australia at the World Winter Games for the third time, an achievement unmatched by anyone else on the team. Australia first participated in the World Winter Games in South Korea in 2013, sending a team of five athletes, including Craig Muhlbock, who won three silver medals in snowboarding. He is now ready to go for gold. "I hope to get a medal, let's see how far I can go," Muhlbock said.

His father, Peter Muhlbock, will be watching him go for gold, and he is also the team's assistant coach. Peter Muhlbock has been involved with the Special Olympics since his son started playing sports. The Special Olympics means a lot to the whole family. "What's different about the Special Olympics compared to other (sports) opportunities is that we invite athletes of all ages and abilities to participate, no matter how fast they run or how fast they swim," Peter Muhlbock said.

No medal target has been set for the team, and the focus is on athletes improving their performance and performing at their best in competition. "As far as expectations for Italy are concerned, there are none," Peter Muhlbock said. "Obviously, we have some very strong competitors, the European countries, Japan, the United States, and Canada."

Unlike athletes from these countries, the Australian team faces the challenge of training without snow in the summer. Many athletes rely on other forms of fitness, such as Craig Muhlbock's soccer and Kooyman's aerobics, to stay in shape. Athletes also face the challenge of paying their own way to the World Winter Games, and although Special Olympics Australia receives funding through the Australian Sports Commission, this is often not enough to ensure financial support for overseas competitions. "Sometimes, some athletes turn down the trip for that reason. So, funding could always be better," Peter Muhlbock said.

Peter Muhlbock said that, at the end of the day, what matters is ensuring that every athlete enjoys the opportunity they have been given, not only to compete, but also to travel and experience life away from home, which may be their first time. It is the life skills and friendships that really make the World Winter Games and Special Olympics work for athletes with intellectual disabilities, including Craig Muhlbock and Kooyman. "Craig is a bit shy, but his strengths in sports have made him more confident," Peter Muhlbock said. "We love that he's doing what he really enjoys. We thank organizations like the Special Olympics for providing (opportunities like the World Games) for our kids."

With the largest Australian team ever participating in the World Winter Games, there is hope to see the Special Olympics grow in Australia. Peter Muhlbock said that the organization has about three thousand five hundred members, and he hopes that more athletes with intellectual disabilities and their families will get involved. "There are thousands of people with intellectual disabilities in Australia who may not even know about the Special Olympics," he said. "I encourage people to go out and try it and see if it's right for their child."

_The Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, will be held from March 8-15._