OTTUMWA —
Don’t focus on what you can’t do. Pay attention to the things you can do.
Tyler Dossey, a sophomore at Ottumwa High School, for example, can push an 8-pound iron ball more than 20 feet. For the past two weeks, he’s pushed that “shot” more than a hundred times. But he’ll only need one good throw Friday in the Iowa Special Olympics.
Tyler’s whole family is heading to Ames today to support him in his first Special Olympics. Other Wapello County residents are going to the Special Olympics as athletes or volunteers.
Tyler’s adventure started when his roommate told him how much he enjoyed running in the Special Olympics. Tyler started training two weeks ago. His strongest events were the 100-meter run and the shot put. He decided to focus on just the shot put.
“He hasn’t really been doing any weightlifting [to prepare],” said his coach, Andy Swedenhjelm.
Swedenhjelm, who is Tyler’s health teacher, agreed to train him during the student’s independent study time, which coincided with his own prep period. Tyler got lucky: Swedenhjelm is the Ottumwa High School track and field team’s discuss and shot put coach.
In addition to health, Tyler takes woods class and is in Junior ROTC. He does most of his work in his special education class.
Tyler has a competitive streak.
While the Special Olympics website says, “Our athletes ... teach us all about acceptance and understanding,” Tyler says he’s going to Ames to win.
“I’ll win a blue ribbon... I’ll win for my parents,” he said Wednesday.
Whatever the results are after 1 p.m. Friday, the student-athlete has already become stronger, he said. He’s also doubled the distance at which he started his “put” just two weeks ago.
“It’s fun, and it’s easy [now]. This is what you have to do,” Tyler said, before demonstrating, one hand against his neck, the other arm up with the elbow bent. “You have to swing back, like this, then ‘twist’ like you’re hitting your sister.”
His coach blushed a bit at that, though Tyler said Swedenhjelm helped make training fun.
The Special Olympics’ website says through the athletics they’re capable of, people with disabilities learn to see themselves “for their abilities, not disabilities.”
The site also has testimonials from participants who say they like the opportunity to meet new friends. And for a moment, that’s what it sounded like Tyler was saying. But he hadn’t said “meet.”
“Beat ... I’m excited to beat other people up there.”
CNHI/SE Iowa
Related Photos
-
Tyler Dossey, a sophomore at Ottumwa High School, demonstrates throwing the shot put at the school. Dossey’s whole family is heading to Ames today to support him in his first Special Olympics. Mark Newman/The Courier
Discussion
Ottumwa Special Olympian determined to take his best shot
Dossey one of the southeast Iowans heading to Ames
- CNHI/SE Iowa
-
-
Kebabs: Health kick on a stick
Grilling is a simple way to feed your family well this summer. Start with a lean meat and a healthful marinade and then allow the grill to strip away additional fat for a heart-healthy and waist-friendly final result. Plus, grilling caramelizes the natural sugars in foods, which adds flavor without additional calories and fat.
-
Boy Scouts: Yes to gay youths, no to adults
The Boy Scouts of America on Thursday ended its ban on openly gay youths but maintained a prohibition on gay adult leaders, a decision framed as a compromise but one that could lead to litigation and thousands of defections from one of America's largest youth organizations.
-
Rain for Memorial Day weekend, but not a washout
Forecasters say this weekend will see good chances of rain, but they don't expect a complete washout since the highest chance of storms is in the overnight and early morning hours.
-
Expert: Schools need shelters
Ninety-four percent of Oklahoma schools do not have tornado shelters, according to Gov. Mary Fallin, even though at least one weather expert says they should be standard. With two Moore schools destroyed in Monday’s EF-5 tornado — and ...
-
Twitter introduces website security tool after AP account hacked
Twitter is adding a new security tool to its website, making it harder for outsiders to gain access to accounts, a month after a false posting triggered a stock-market decline.
-
Siblings withstand storm in fridge
Brother and sister co-owners of a Chinese takeout restaurant huddled inside a refrigerator to survive Monday’s deadly tornado that claimed 24 lives.
-
Pursuit that began in Marion County ends in Wayne County
CORYDON — A pursuit that began in Marion County Tuesday evening ended in Wayne County Tuesday night. The two-hour, high speed chase that went through several counties, with an alleged short stint in Missouri as well, involved several agencies with a
-
Mom delivered baby as tornado struck
Shayla Taylor was so far along in labor that her nurses at Moore Medical Center decided not to move her when Monday's tornado hit. They waited out the storm in an operating room, where the wall disappeared as the tornado hit the building.
-
Stabbing trial pushed back
OTTUMWA -- The trial of an Ottumwa man accused of stabbing another man to death has been pushed back. Twenty-year-old Brandon Seim was charged in November 2011, when he was 18, with the stabbing death of Andy Madren, 34. When officers arrived at the
-
Offering a few helping hands
Two area women formed a business around the idea that people who have lost loved ones may need assistance in getting estates squared away.
- More CNHI/SE Iowa Headlines
-
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
