SPECIAL OLYMPICS
‘FEELS SO GOOD’
by DAVE LEMIEUX
T e feeling can change your life. It washed over Audrey Goldberg when she
won bronze in novice pairs at the 2011 U.S. Fig- ure Skating Championships. T at feeling was a precious gift that Gold-
berg unselfi shly found a way to give to those who might not otherwise ever feel the uncon- ditional, unambiguous warmth that fl ows from demonstrating excellence and grace in competi- tion.
“Since reaching that level at nationals, I’ve
seen how much skating has given to me and wanted to give something back,” Goldberg, 17, said in a phone interview from her home in Yardley, Pa. After winning that bronze medal, Gold-
berg, then 14, demonstrated maturity far be- yond her years when she organized a Special Olympics fi gure skating program at her home rink near Philadelphia three years ago. T e same dedication that has kept Gold-
berg skating since age 4 has made her Special Olympics program a success story. Just a high school senior this year, Goldberg is eager to help foster similar programs at other rinks. “I’m hoping to extend this program and
teach other kids at other rinks how to get start- ed,” Goldberg said. “You need to get a few skat- ers to volunteer to coach, speak with the rink manager about ice time and then contact the Special Olympics to register the program and spread the word to local special athletes. U.S. Figure Skating has a Special Olympics curric- ulum that you follow to teach fundamentals to
Igloo team members (l-r): Coach Audrey Goldberg, Kristi- na Zanghi and Elise Clifton are excited about competing.
Igloo medalists and coaches at the New Jersey Special Olympics Winter Games in January: (l-r) Coach Audrey Goldberg, Elise Clifton, Kristina Zanghi, Aadita Arulalan, Coach Noelle Weill and Ryan Corkery
the skaters.” Everything and everyone the program
needed was already out there, waiting only for Goldberg’s vision to bring it all together. T e Igloo’s director of skating (and one of
Goldberg’s coaches), two-time U.S. pairs cham- pion Rocky Marval, needed only to be asked to donate an hour of ice-time each week to the pro- gram.
“Rocky has been integral to helping the
Special Olympics program,” Goldberg said. “He’s been so generous with ice time and equip- ment at the Igloo (in Mount Laurel, N.J.) He was an Olympic skater and was eager to share this opportunity.” Goldberg’s fellow skaters at the Igloo were
just as eager. “I see the Special Olympics as a wonderful
opportunity for both teen skaters and Special Olympics students alike,” volunteer coach No- elle Weill said. “As a coach, I love the chance to reach out to kids who love what I love and want to do what I do.” Goldberg’s commitment has kept the pro-
gram going. In addition to the hour she and the other coaches spend on ice with a dozen or so skaters each week, Goldberg devotes another three to organizing practices, matching coaches with skaters and emailing schedules to skaters and their parents. When the Special Olympics roll around,
Goldberg devotes even more time to the pro- gram.
“I spend more time with them helping
choreograph their routines and giving them the private attention that they need,” she said. Flexibility has been another key to the pro-
gram’s success, Goldberg said. “We have some athletes who are not able to
learn and memorize a fi gure skating program, so to enable them to participate in the Special Olympics Winter Games I entered them in the speedskating events.” “It’s never been a grind,” Goldberg said.
“It doesn’t feel like work. T ey’re teaching us as well, things like patience, persistence, and the value of a positive attitude and enthusiasm. To see them achieve, it feels so good.”
18 NOVEMBER 2014
Coach Audrey Goldberg (right) off ers Elise Clifton some last-second encouragement before Clifton takes the ice for competition.
T at’s the feeling that keeps everyone
involved in the program, according to Weill. “I love seeing their faces brighten each
time they step on the ice,” Weill said. “Teaching them, playing games with them and just getting to know them has been an absolutely incredible experience.” One measure of success has been the Igloo
skaters’ medal count at the New Jersey Special Olympics Winter Games, including those won by Elise Clifton, Kristina Zanghi, Aadita Aru- lalan and Ryan Corkery. But it has been what has happened off ice
that is the real measure of the program’s success, Goldberg said. “T e little steps we take each Saturday
morning change their lives so much,” Gold- berg said. “T ey are learning life skills such as working with others, focus, determination and patience. T ey come here to have fun, but the work changes their thinking outside of skating. T ey’ve gained new skills and confi dence and benefi t from the physical activity and social in- teraction as well.” Goldberg would like to share her ex-
periences in developing the Igloo Special Olympics program; she can be contacted at
agoldberg289@gmail.com. For information on starting a Special Olympics/T erapeutic Skating program at your rink, contact Bren- da Glidewell, director of skating programs at bglidewell@usfi
gureskating.org.
TEEN COACH CHANGING LIVES WITH SKATING
PHOTO COURTESY AUDREY GOLDBERG PHOTO COURTESY PETE BRYON
PHOTO COURTESY PETE BRYON
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