We as Canadians are always looking for ways to stay warm during the winter months and for one Red Deer athlete the answer is simple.
Elliott Moskowy can bask in the warm glow of the medals he won at the recent Special Olympic World Summer games in Los Angeles
The 24 year old competitive swimmer brought home gold medals in the 100 metre freestyle, 200 metre freestyle, 100 metre IM relay and one silver medal in the 100 metre IM from the games.
He deals with Asperger’s Syndrome and the swimming pool is a perfect environment for him.
“I’ve always enjoyed the part of having to dive in and feel the burst of energy that comes out with every stroke that I do,” he said. “It also gives me a great feeling of endurance and adrenalin that drives me through the water.”
He said these medals from Los Angeles are the ones he’s most proud of as they are from a competition which is about the highest level he could achieve as a Special Olympian and like any other athlete he had a few butterflies during his competition.
“Well honestly yes I felt very nervous to be going up against many of the best athletes the world had to offer and also I felt a sense of honour which made me feel very good and respected.”
When asked about what he has in the way of a handicap Elliott answers without blinking an eye about his Apserger’s.It’s who he is and what he has but he’s just as quick to list off what else he has in order to make him a success in the pool.
“I have determination. I have good training. I have experience and I have the willingness to keep on going no matter how difficult it may be.”
It was his first time in Los Angeles not as tourist and he joined about 7,000 athletes from around the world in the long competition.
More than 200,000 spectators and volunteers took in the events which included swimming, track and field, bowling, baseball, soccer and gymnastics.
He says the atmosphere of the games was something he will treasure along with the genuine support from those he was competing against in the pool.
“We support each other and think very highly of ourselves and our special athletes,” he said. “We are capable of anything as long as we don’t give up.”
He works with the people at the Alberta Sports Development Centre in Red Deer to hone his skills. He admits he likes to win as much as the next person but he also puts a lot of stock in his personal development as a swimmer.
“The sense of improvement of your technique and even your time once you finish.”’
Bettering past times in the pool was something he accomplished in L.A., trimming off a couple of seconds from each race and he credits his training to some degree.
“As well as the motivation and the thrill of the race and also for the passion that I have for swimming.”
Following an eight month, three hour a day regimen of non-stop training in the pool he figures he will slow the pace down for the next little while. He expects to come back to a stronger pace with another World Games appearance on the horizon a strong possibility.
Given his determination and dedication, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if was standing on the podium once again.
