A 'really nonstop' week: Meet the five Volusia County Special Olympians from the USA Games

ORMOND BEACH — Jeff Beebe brought a couple of books and his laptop computer to kill time in his hotel room.

But during his 10 days in Orlando for the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games, none of them were opened. He watched only a few minutes of a movie on TV during his limited free periods.

“Our week was really nonstop,” said Beebe, an assistant standup paddleboard coach for Team Florida and coach of multiple other sports in Volusia County.

Wake-up times occurred before 5 a.m. some days, and bedtimes weren’t always early.

“There were a couple nights where we only got four hours of sleep,” said Margaret Tambini, also an assistant paddleboard coach and mother of local athlete Richard Tambini.

Those aren’t complaints. Just facts. For Beebe, Tambini and others from Volusia County, the long days were worth it.

Five athletes from Volusia County competed at the USA Games from June 3-12, and they brought home a combined six medals, including two golds.

The games included more than 5,500 athletes from all 50 states and other countries from the Caribbean. Athletes could participate in only one sport. They qualified based on past scores from the state competitions and were put into a draw for the USA Games.

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Ember Dubea, stand-up paddleboarding

At times during the past few months, Ember Dubea wanted to quit.

She got involved with the Special Olympics through Spruce Creek High School three years ago, originally starting with bocce ball before pivoting to stand-up paddleboarding. She’s now 21.

“At first, it looked like she was just going to do it for fun,” said Jim Dubea, Ember’s father. “Then, she really got a competitive spirit.”

But she battled through a lot, including the death of her mom this past February.

“Toward the end, what we really explained to her is, ‘This is something your mom wanted you to do,’” Jim Dubea said. “‘If you quit, that’s not the right thing to do. Just remember your mom wanted you to do this and was very proud of you for this.’ She really hung onto that, I think.”

Jim Dubea also credits Beebe with keeping Ember motivated.

“Ember is very focused,” Beebe said. “When she gets set on whatever that focus is, she’s going to get that done.”

Dubea did get it done in Orlando. She raced in her 800-meter qualifying event on Tuesday, June 7, and the final event two days later, coming in first to secure the gold.

“I want to say Thursday was the best I’ve ever seen her do,” Jim Dubea said. “I was really proud of her.”

Taineira Rivera, swimming

Taineira Rivera almost didn’t go to the USA Games.

She qualified and was chosen for the games months ago, but they had a vaccine mandate, and Rivera didn’t have the shot. She stopped practicing and planning to go.

Then, on Friday, June 3, Rivera’s mother, Waneira Garcia received a phone call from a Team Florida coach. The vaccine mandate had been dropped.

“She said, ‘Start packing,’” Garcia said. “So we were running here and there … (Rivera) was all excited.”

They hustled to Orlando the next day.

Rivera, 27, had never swum before joining the Special Olympics eight years ago. She also plays basketball and volleyball.

“It’s just been great through the years,” Garcia said. “It’s a very good experience for our children with disabilities and young adults with disabilities. Their social circle is small as it is, so being a part of this organization has made it all worth it.”

At the games, Rivera claimed gold in the 100-meter freestyle and added a bronze medal in the 4X50-meter medley.

Pretty good for someone who hadn’t practiced in three months.

Trevor Hamilton, bowling

Before stepping into Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando, Trevor Hamilton felt nervous.

He had never been to an alley as big as this one, including its 80 lanes. His parents, Jani and Dale, had taken him there two or three times before the USA Games to acclimate him to scenery, but it had a different vibe on competition day last month when it was filled with people.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Hamilton, 32, said. “I said, ‘Who am I bowling with?’ Then, when I got to the competition, I saw everyone I’d play against and thought, ‘I’ve got these guys.’”

Hamilton earned two silver medals — one in singles and one in teams.

“Tuesday was what I was most proud of,” he said. “I was rocking it, picking up my spares. I said, ‘I’ve got this. I just need to heat up.’ ”

Hamilton has bowled for about four years and spent six months practicing before the USA Games. He also competes in golf and basketball, his favorite. His next goal: going to the World Games in Berlin, Germany, next year.

His parents stated how great of an impact the Special Olympics have had on Hamilton. They encouraged more people to help as volunteers and coaches and would love to, one day, see a large Special Olympics venue in Volusia County.

“We’re eternally grateful for everyone who helps us,” Dale Hamilton said.

Tiffany Dorber, stand-up paddleboarding

During her 1,600-meter final, Tiffany Dorber was gaining on her friend from Jacksonville.

The two were vying for second place, with Dorber in third and her friend in second. As the transition took place, Dorber slowed down next to her competitor to encourage her. She moved into second and won the silver medal by several seconds.

“At that point, I don’t think she really cared if she beat her or not,” said Jeff Dorber, Tiffany’s dad. “She was just encouraging her friend … That’s typical Tiffany.”

Dorber, a 30-year-old graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School, started with the Special Olympics nine years ago. Since then, she’s participated in just about everything — paddleboarding, golf, tennis, cycling. She’s good at all of them, too.

“Tiffany is no surprise,” Beebe, her coach, said. “She’s a joy to be around, and she rises to the occasion and competition … Typically, you expect great things out of a great athlete with a great attitude.”

Hence that silver medal.

“My wife and I got to see her final event on Friday,” Jeff Dorber said a week after the games wrapped up. “I still don’t think I’ve got my voice back.”

Richard Tambini, swimming

Richard Tambini’s hotel room wasn’t that far from his mom’s.

“(But) I didn’t really get to see much of him,” Margaret Tambini said due to the busyness of their schedules.

While Margaret was an assistant stand-up paddleboard coach, Richard was a Team Florida swimmer. He placed as high as fourth in the 50-meter relay and 50-meter backstroke.

“He had a blast,” Margaret Tambini said. “He loved it.”

Richard got into the Special Olympics during elementary school in Marion County before the family moved to Volusia in 2015. He attended DeLand High School and has stayed involved in many sports — surfing, paddleboarding, swimming, volleyball and basketball.

While the 21-year-old likes all of those, the best part of his 10 days in Orlando might’ve been the socializing. It didn’t bug him that he didn’t see much of his mom.

“Everybody on his team, except for Taineira, he didn’t know,” Margaret said. “He made new friends, and I know he enjoyed that …

“He’s always been social. He knows no strangers. He’s really learning good sportsmanship as he matures with it.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia Special Olympics athletes had a fast-paced, great time