On Jan. 18, Chaparral Ice Center will host
the first ever Central Texas figure skating competition
for the Special Olympics. Among the athletes hailing from
19 counties, Round Rock has a special entrant, 17-year-old
Nicole Bradley. Bradley splits her time between basketball,
bowling, aquatics, track, academics and, most recently,
figure skating. Her interest in ice skating developed when
she watched figure skaters gliding on the ice for the first
time. “I was watching and thought, ‘I could
do that,’” she says.
Kathy Taylor, Bradley’s figure skating coach, had
been impressed by her spirit and ability. Taylor was instrumental
in the creation of the ice skating event; she realized last
year that she didn’t have any local ice skaters and
began her search. Bradley volunteered to be a part of the
team. “She’s very motivated and works hard,”
says Taylor. The event will be the first competition in
which the new Austin figure skating team, the Chaparral
Diamond Spurs, will participate. The nine-member team practices
weekly to prepare for the event. The teams will be expected
to present a one-minute routine to music and may also take
a turn at speed skating on either a 25-, 50- or 100-meter
course. Taylor outlined the benefits each of the athletes
receives from their participation in the Special Olympics:
“They learn to have athletic goals; they become invested
in achieving those goals; they have great group interaction;
and they learn from each other and have a sense on comeraderie.”
Nicole will be one of two skaters continuing on to the state
figure skating competition in Houston in early February.
She will be the first athlete from Austin to compete in
this state event.
Jan Sartain, head of delegation for the Round Rock Independent
School District Special Olympics Program, also coaches Bradley
in basketball, bowling, aquatics and track.
“I think I have seen Nicole blossom into a young lady
[through her athletic involvement]. This has given her a
boost in self-confidence. She is willing to take a risk,
to go out and compete,” says Sartain.
Come out and cheer for Bradley and all of the incredible
Special Olympics athletes at the figure skating competition
from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 18. Everyone is welcome
to this free event.
When asked what stands out about Bradley, Taylor replies,
“It’s her smile, and her great, positive attitude.”
The Special Olympics figure skating program is in need of
volunteer to help provide individual attention for all of
the participants. You don’t have to be a professional
ice skater to lend a hand.Volunteering can be as simple
as helping to lace up some skates or cheering from the stands.
To learn how you can help, contact the Special Olympics
at 835-9873 or visit www.sotex.org.
