Top Global Honour for Special Olympics Marlborough Athlete

Top Global Honour for Special Olympics Marlborough Athlete

Blenheim-based Special Olympics Marlborough runner and graduate Global Messenger, Dale Smit (20), has been selected as the New Zealand athlete for the Final Leg of the Torch Run for the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015.

Globally more than 90,000 police professionals and supporters across 35 countries participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which includes relay and fundraising events held ahead of Special Olympics sports competitions (similar in style to the Olympic Torch Relay).

“This is only the second time we have nominated a New Zealand athlete to take part in the Torch Run at a world event,” says Kathy Gibson, Special Olympics New Zealand Chief Executive Officer.

“We were thrilled Dale was selected as he is an outstanding long distance athlete that will fly our New Zealand flag very high. He is extremely dedicated to his training programme both in Special Olympics and in mainstream athletics.

“The fact that he has also been through our national Athlete Training Programme is an added bonus as I am sure he will be thrilled to share his experiences when he returns home.”

Dale is one of 10 international athletes to be selected; he is also the only person chosen from Asia-Pacific for this prestigious honour. This achievement is no mean feat, as the Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council in the United States received 30 nominations for the 10 places.

He says Chair of Special Olympics Nelson, Lois Aitkenhead and his father, David Smit, encouraged him to apply for the Torch Run opportunity.
“Dad helped me fill the forms in and I was then told that Special Olympics New Zealand had put my name forward. Mum read the email from the USA telling me I had been selected for the Final Leg of the Torch Run – I am just so happy and excited,” says Dale.
While he has carried the torch in two Regional Games (Marlborough and Nelson), Dale has not yet had any international involvement with the Torch Run.
As a Special Olympics New Zealand Global Messenger, Dale believes this event will help him enable people to understand more about Special Olympics.

“I want to help change people’s attitudes to be more supportive towards those with intellectual disabilities. Representing New Zealand in the LETR is an honour and it lets me talk about Special Olympics.”

Dale has been involved with Special Olympics New Zealand for more than 10 years and has competed in two Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games, winning five gold medals, one silver and one bronze. He also represented New Zealand at the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2007 in Shanghai, winning gold in the 10 kilometre event and bronze in the half-marathon.

He also likes cycling and duathlons and in addition to running with Special Olympics, he runs with the local Harrier Club. Outside of sport, Dale likes to build model airplanes and works full-time for Aotearoa Seafoods. He has also worked for New Zealand Riding for the Disabled in Blenheim and has been a valuable local ambassador speaking to students at his former school, Marlborough Boys College and at other fundraising events.

ENDS

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