news
in the news
Amechai
is Abu
Dhabi
bound
By Kate Hill
T
he Mount Gambier
community has shown
its support for South
Australian athlete Amechai
Bawden, raising thousands of
dollars to cover costs for the
talented runner to compete in
the upcoming Special Olympics
World Summer Games.
The 22-year-old will join
7,000 athletes from 170 countries
Confessing he likes nothing
more than achieving a personal
best, Amechai has become one of
the Mount Gambier parkrun’s most
prolific competitors, crossing the line
in first place over a hundred times.
Now Amechai’s training regime
in March, competing in the trail runs, personal training and a
4x100m relay, 1,500m and the weekly yoga session, as he prepares
5,000m long distance event. for the punishing heat and humidity
strong Australian team.
“I want to do my best so that all
of Abu Dhabi.
The Australian team will arrive a
week prior to the opening ceremony
to acclimatise to the weather but until
my hard work, and training shows then, the keen young runner is taking
what athletes with disabilities can do.” advantage of every opportunity to hit
The young man nicknamed
‘Superman’ put his selection down to
the trails.
The community of Mount Gambier
‘hard work and a bit of luck’ but he’s has stepped up to help cover the
no stranger to competition. costs of the $7,000-plus journey
At the family home in Mount
Gambier, Amechai’s overflowing
trophy room is filled with his
overseas, raising thousands of dollars
to support their hometown hero.
Also looking forward to
successes at state, national and following Amechai’s games
international sporting competitions, journey is Lisa Hester, the SA
including four gold medals for Sports Development Manager
running from last year’s National for Special Olympics Australia,
Special Olympics. who first met Amechai in 2008.
It was four years ago at the
“Amechai is a true
2014 Special Olympics Australia competitor and shows amazing
National Games when Amechai’s sportsmanship,” she said.
talent for running was discovered,
“When you watch Amechai
after he was offered a spot run, he seems to be in another
in the 4x100 relay event. place, but it seems to be a
The speedy teenager wowed both
coaches and crowds and his running
career began in earnest.
news
perfect training ground.
involves a gruelling mix of sprints,
on competing with the 105-member
8
weekly five-kilometre parkrun event the
at the games in Abu Dhabi
“I am so excited,” said Amechai,
Amechai Bawden goes through his
paces ready for the Special Olympics
World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.
Now, his favourite event is the
5,000m, which makes Mount Gambier’s
comfortable relaxed place, totally
focussed on the task at hand.”
www.abudhabi2019.org
linkonline.com.au