Gold Medal!

So yesterday was a long and SUCCESSFUL day at the Special Olympics! Chase won 2 first place gold medals (but only one actually counted) and he took one fourth place!

So he was only suppose to compete in the 25 meter dash and the softball throw. In the qualifying rounds a week prior he got disqualified in the 50 meter dash because he stepped out of his lane (they are pretty serious about that stuff). A little ridiculous if you ask me. He is handicap, SO WHAT if he stepped out of his lane! But I suppose they have to set rules and boundries to be fair. I am always in the mind set that Chase has Downs and so he doesn't understand, when in reality everyone there is handicap too, so they can't really make any exceptions. We were pretty bummed when we heard that he wasn't running in the 50 meter dash.

I guess Chase was pretty bummed too, because before we knew it he was out on the track taking his runner's stance in a race he wasn't suppose to be in! At first we were freaking out. We tried to coax him back to us but it didn't work, the only thing we could do now was cheer him on! The gun went off and Chase ran the fastest we have ever seen him run, or at least thats what it seemed. We soon realized the people he was running against were far more severly handicapped than him. But we were just as proud to see him take 1st. He had a huge smile on his face as he crossed the finish line almost like he knew he had out smarted everyone.

Anyways he took 4th place in the 25 meter dash and 1st place in the softball throw.
My favorite part of the day was watching Chase dance on stage with all the other contestants. He has the best dance moves ever! It was a long day but such a fun day to see Chase so happy and loving every moment of it all. We are proud of you Chase! Can't wait for next year's Special Olympics!