Special Olympics athletes will be heading for Abu Dhabi next year, along with 15 Associate Coaches.
They’ll compete at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Jason Agnew of Moncton has been chosen to Coach the Track and Field athletes, “I may be responsible for three or four athletes across the country. They will have a training Coach that will work with them hands on. Part of my job will be to ensure they have the right sort of training program and they get the resources and help that they need to perform their best.”
Agnew has a long history of Coaching with the Special Olympics. His father started the program in Moncton in 1980, and his family has been very involved since then.
“I have been fortunate enough to coach with my father and mother. I have coached with my children who all volunteer with me now. No one works harder, no one puts more effort into preparation for competition and no one makes coaching more fun than our athletes do.”
He says these athletes work very hard, twelve months of the year, “At our last games, three of our top four sprinters were running at the eleven second mark for the hundred metre, which is really fast,” Agnew says.
The World Summer Games will be held from March 14 to 21st next year.
Agnew is the only Coach from New Brunswick to be chosen.
Swimming
Jackie Powell, Swift Current, SK – Sr. Associate Coach
Jennifer Mousley, Cambridge, ON
Maura Hunter, Harmony, NS
Melissa Diamond, Winnipeg, MB
Michel Guay, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC
Athletics
Jason Agnew, Moncton, NB
Peter De Marchi, Vancouver, BC
Rosemary Ryan, Kippen’s, NL
Maria Powell, Calgary, AB
Rebecca Cuff, Brampton, ON
Bowling
Céline Gelinas, Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, QC
Mario Inkel, Saint – Félix-de-Daliquier, QC
Pat Enns, AB
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Ursula Hynes, Glace Bay, NS
Powerlifting
George MacLagan Campbell River, BC
For a full list of all 2019 Special Olympics Team Canada mission staff, head coaches and associate coaches, please visit www.specialolympics.ca/teamcanada2019.www.specialolympics.ca/teamcanada2019
(photos submitted by Special Olympics NB)
