Local athletes heading to Special Olympics

Susy Skelton knows about challenges.

For many years, the Port Orchard woman has raised two teenaged girls with special needs, including 17-year-old Shaneey Skelton, who has overcome speech and language-delay problems to become a successful sophomore at South Kitsap High School.

But it’s Shaneey who will face her biggest challenge yet — as a competitor at this year’s Special Olympics, first in the state event June 2-4 and then at the nationals in July in Ames, Iowa.

“I can’t wait meet all the people” from around the state and country, said Skelton, who will compete in field events, including the 200-meter dash, 4-by-100 relay, running long jump and 1.5K unified walk.

Another local resident, John Baux Jr., of Olalla, will join Skelton at the state and national events.

Baux, 47, also has overcome his share of challenges. He suffered a brain-damaging cerebral vascular hemorrhage in 1980 and has been unable to work ever since.

But Baux has competed as a Special Olympian since the 1980s, first in track and field, then in basketball. He’s been a swimmer for the past 15 years and will represent the state at the nationals, competing in the 25M backstroke, 25M freestyle, 100M freestyle and 4-by-100 unified relay.

“I’m pretty psyched,” said Baux, admitting this is the highest level he’s ever achieved in his 20 years of competition. “But I don’t look at it like work. It’s unfortunate that I’m disabled, but being able to participate in the Special Olympics has been outrageously gratifying for me.”

The Skeltons agree.

Even Shaneey Skelton’s younger sister, Cari, competes in the Special Olympics. Both girls have won numerous medals in basketball, softball and bowling.

Her mother said Shaneey likes field events best, and has worked hard to reach the level she has.

“All of her friends were doing it, so she wanted to do it, too,” Susy Skelton said of Shaneey, who started competing in 1999.

Shaneey won a gold medal in basketball in the regional competition earlier this year, but she’s been pouring her energy into training for the state and national field events.

She’ll join more than 5,000 athletes at Fort Lewis, McChord AFB, Federal Way High School and the Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center for the Special Olympics Washington Summer Games.

Shaneey’s strongest event is the running long jump, and her mother said she’s already qualified to represent the state in the national competition.

But what most impresses her parents and friends, Skelton said, is that Shaneey puts the same dedication she gives to training into her other activities, like her church and school.

Despite her challenges, and an exemption that would allow her to graduate early, Shaneey has decided to complete high all four years of high school and graduate South Kitsap High in 2008.

“We’re so proud of her,” Susy Skelton said. “All the kids at her school have been so supportive. And the Special Olympics has made our whole family stronger.”

Special Olympics Washington provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, skills and relationships.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.