Rolling up to go for gold

By Ed Merrison
CHRISTINE Williams has some simple advice for Olympians – you don’t think twice, you just go.
Ms Williams of Boronia was not giving coaching tips to her son Justin, she was referring to a parent’s duty in providing opportunity for a child.
She did all she could to make sure Justin got to take part in this week’s Special Olympics on the Gold Coast.
“You save and save and save and go without a lot of things, but it’s worth it,” she said.
Justin, who has an intellectual disability, is among 850 athletes from across the nation competing in Special Olympics Australia VIII National Games whose opening ceremony was due to take place last night (Monday).
A former swimmer, Justin will have a tilt at 10 pin bowling gold this time around.
No matter what happens, Ms Williams said she was sure her son would enjoy himself.
“He’s a mad sportsman and enjoys competing,” she said.
“He also loves it for the friendships he makes.”
Justin is no stranger to the big stage having travelled to Dublin in 2003 to represent Australia in the World Summer Games.
Christine was not able to go to Dublin and does not have the spare cash for a plane ticket to the Gold Coast.
Luckily, her other son, Grant, coaches the swimming team and will be in Queensland to barrack for Justin.
“He’ll have the mobile phone so he can tell me everything that’s going on,” she said.
“He’ll have to cheer doubly loud for me.”
Also flying the flag for Victoria are rhythmic gymnast Melanie Aquilina from The Basin and Ferntree Gully basketballer Craig Bolejko, while Kerri Campbell, also of Ferntree Gully, will be playing bocce in her first national games.
Kerri, who admits to a few nerves before competitions, proved her pedigree when she returned from an invitational tournament in New Zealand last November with gold and silver. That experience was enough to get her excited about the week-long Gold Coast games and also to provide a healthy dose of confidence.
“I think we’re going to win some gold,” she said.