How the Special Olympics' return to MU benefits the athletes the most

Fadraon Anderson, dressed up in a pressed black button-down, a stylish belt buckle and comfortable jeans, stood confidently in the Mizzou Rec Center Saturday evening.

He had a successful day competing in the long jump, the 200-meter dash, the 400-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay, earning two gold medals and a bronze.

Anderson had a friend hold his drink, a large strawberry lemonade fit for a champion, as he recounted his accomplishments during a dance party.

"Having fun is the most important thing," Anderson said. "You go out and win a race, and you're having fun doing it but you're also having fun doing it with a lot of your friends."

Anderson was one of around 1,000 athletes participating in the Special Olympics Missouri, which returned to the University of Missouri in Columbia for the first time since 2014.

Returning it to MU gave athletes the chance to perform in a Southeastern Conference athletic center in a large setting. It also gave the athletes a chance to make sure their health is in peak condition beyond the Games.

Last year, the Games returned to Columbia for a day at Hickman High and 2022 marked the return of the first three-day slate of competitions since 2018.

In 2019, the Jefferson City tornadoes canceled the Games, and the pandemic canceled the 2020 Games.

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"We're so excited for a return to normalcy," Special Olympics Missouri Senior Programs Director Melinda Wrye-Washington said in a press release announcing the games' return. "I know our athletes, coaches, unified partner and volunteers are excited as well."

That return to normalcy also allowed for the athletes to get properly screened at the SOMO's health and wellness clinics.

Ashley Popejoy and Steph Wilson, two pediatric dentists who were a part of the Healthy Athletes Park on Saturday evening, traveled to Columbia to perform checkups on the participating athletes.

Popejoy said for her and Wilson specifically as dentists, the dental clinic reinforced dental hygiene while allowing them to see if the athletes have any urged conditions they need to address.

Popejoy practices in the Springfield area, while Wilson practices in Kansas City.

"We do this at most events, so we are seeing some of the same kids frequently," Popejoy said. "Probably the more impactful things is that we can talk to their caregivers or their coaches about what type of Medicaid to do you have?"

Beyond the dental hygienists present, there were also hearing, fitness and foot care specialists getting a chance to look at athletes.

Holding these clinics at events as large as the Summer Olympics gives physicians a chance to see patients on a larger scale. Popejoy said she had seen over 100 athletes as of Saturday evening, meaning about 10 percent of all athletes had their dental hygiene checked.

It’s a way for health professionals and caretakers to ensure the athletes’ health while also giving them an athletic experience at large-scale and modern athletic centers in mid-Missouri.

Anderson said it's nice when the event is bigger and grander. The bigger the event means the more athletes are present to compete and celebrate those accomplishments after.

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"Tough competitions like this, you're nervous," Anderson said. "You have people say 'you can do this,' you have friends say 'you can do it.' You just have that confidence."

The physicians revel in the experience, too. Wilson said she and other physicians personally follow up with some of the athletes they've performed check-ups on this weekend.

It's the knowledge they've personally assisted someone who needs aid with their health that sticks with them.

"We enjoy it, I'd like to say more than they do," Wilson said. "We leave here super, super happy and blessed, and we've touched a lot of people's hearts."

The Games concluded Sunday as the athletes finished the track and field events, which started on Saturday alongside powerlifting and swimming.

The athletes had fun. They also had a chance to stay healthy. The Games' return to MU highlighted what makes the Special Olympics an important event statewide.

"Not many people get a chance to do this," Anderson said.

Chris Kwiecinski is the sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, overseeing University of Missouri and Boone County sports coverage. Follow him on Twitter @OchoK_ and contact him at CKwiecinsk@gannett.com or 573-815-1857.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Special Olympics' return to University of Missouri benefits athletes