By Derek Schlennstedt
Marissa Turner has tasted plenty of success over her two decades of competing on the gymnasts mat.
And though her career is long and distinguished, the experienced rhythmic gymnast, and previous world champ at the Special Olympics has decided to take on another challenge – bocce.
Marissa, now 44, and from Ferntree Gully will be representing the state in bocce at next month’s Special Olympics Australia (SOA) National Games held in Adelaide.
It will be her second time representing the state in bocce, and though she’s been involved with SOA over 32 years – she is still excited to be representing Victoria.
Her parents, Janice and Graham Turner reflected on Marissa’s sporting accomplishments and recall their daughter always being interested and involved in sport.
“She loves sport and likes playing bocce especially the social aspect – all her friends that she gets to play with,” Janice said.
“We haven’t counted them (her medals) … there’d be around 160 kicking around somewhere,” Graham said.
Though new to the competitive sport of bocce, Marissa is no neophyte, and has been playing the game since 1998 but was focused more on her gymnastics during that time.
That was, until eight years ago, when she stopped competing and training in gymnastic and became more dedicated to bocce.
“She used to be a gymnast, that’s how she started, she’d been doing that up until 8 years ago.” Graham said.
“The rhythmic gymnast coach started to do a bit of bocce and she really liked the bocce and was good at it … it was a sideline at that stage but they decided they wanted to push it further so the gymnast coach did bocce coaching courses and we went from there –the rest is history as they say.”
More than 1000 athletes with an intellectual disability will compete in 11 sports over the Special Olympics’ five-day schedule which will be hosted in Adelaide from 16th to 20th April.
The 2018 National Games will be the 11th anniversary of the competition with the host city of Adelaide set to demonstrate its world-class sporting capabilities and amenities.
SOA CEO Corene Strauss said as the SOA National Games fast approaches it is a fantastic time for both the Special Olympics and wider communities to get behind these inspiring athletes who are shining examples of ability over disability.
“We’re extremely proud of our athletes who are gearing up to come together in Adelaide in April as true champions of their sports to celebrate and demonstrate the inclusive and diverse movement that is the Special Olympics,” said Strauss
Both Graham and Janice echoed Strausses’ words and spoke fo the mportance of the games.
“It allows people with intellectual disabilities a chance to play these games and to play against people of their own abilities, it’s a great social outlet and it’s all about being included and having a good time … Marissa loves it,” Graham said.
Help people with an intellectual disability to achieve their life potential through sport and donate at specialolympics.com.au/donate
The Turner family would also like to thank the Knox Italian Community Club who have offered their assistance and facilities to the team.
