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Special Olympics Hibiscus Coast Rodney swimmer Laetitia Tan has made club history, graduating as its first ever Athlete Leader at a ceremony held at Parliament earlier this month.
The 22-year-old, who has been swimming since she was a few months old, has been part of Special Olympics for 11 years. The Athlete Leadership Programme, run by Special Olympics New Zealand from Wellington, helps athletes build confidence, communication and independence through workshops and mentoring.
The programme pairs each participant with a mentor outside their family and encourages them to travel independently, which Laetitia says has helped her become more confident and self-reliant.
Laetitia’s selection was the first for the Hibiscus Coast Rodney club, which supports athletes across a range of sports including swimming, basketball and athletics.
As an Athlete Leader, Laetitia has already spoken at schools and fundraisers, encouraging others to get involved in Special Olympics and helping raise awareness in the community, something she plans to continue.
“I’m going to promote more Special Olympics and more athlete leaders,” she says.
Special Olympics New Zealand describes the leadership programme as a way of “unleashing leadership potential” in athletes, providing opportunities to use their skills to address issues that matter to them and their communities. Athlete Leaders are often invited to speak at local and national events and to share their experiences with the wider public.
Alongside her new leadership role, Laetitia is preparing to compete at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Christchurch in December, where she will take part in swimming events. She trains every Saturday with the club, works out at the gym Monday to Thursday, and also practises taekwondo to keep up her stamina.
“I want to have fun and do my personal best,” she said.
After recently graduating from Unitec, Laetitia hopes to find work in healthcare while continuing to represent Special Olympics both in and out of the pool.
Her clubmates say her achievement is an inspiration to other local athletes and shows how commitment, hard work and community support can help people reach their goals.
The team will be holding a sausage sizzle at Silverdale Bunnings on November 23 and you can support them at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/we-are-going-to-the-special-olympic-nationals
