Lovindeer
Kimone Thompson, Gleaner Writer
"ON YOUR marks, set, go!"
She jumped into the pool and started her freestyle action, but seconds later she stopped, clinging to the dividing rope. Her coaches, teachers and friends urged her to continue.
After much prompting, Racquel Alicia Lovindeer tried again, but going only a few inches farther. Again, she found support in the colourful rope. By this time, her sole opponent had already touched the wall but the crowd cheered her on even more, clapping rhythmically and chanting her name. In response, she cupped her listening ear and flashed her head. She had heard the music and somehow it inspired her to go on.
Once more, Lovindeer pushed off with flapping feet and swinging arms. When that lost its charm, she jumped up and down, allowing the current to gently guide her to the wall at the finish.
At last! She had arrived and she was happy about it. The crowd was ecstatic, going wild with cheers for this brave athlete.
Young Lovindeer became an instant hit simply because she dared to continue what she had started; guided only by courage and determination not to give up although the race had already been won.
HIGH SPIRITS
When The Gleaner caught up with 14-year-old Lovindeer after her swim at the inaugural Special Olympics Caribbean Games at the YMCA headquarters, she was still in high spirits after her sensational race. She said she felt great because she loves to swim, even though she has a phobia for the deep-end.
She has been doing well in the Special Olympics 25-metre freestyle events and came out on top at the parish and national meets which qualified her for the Caribbean Games.
A student of Genesis Academy, Lovindeer enjoys going to school where she benefits from an all-inclusive curriculum which includes music, swimming and life skills, but her favourite subject is mathematics.
One of four children for her parents, mentally challenged Racquel is excited at the prospect of being able to work and become independent. In two years when she becomes 16, the Academy will send her on an internship programme and she can hardly wait.
"I want to become a role model," she told The Gleaner.
Teacher and founder of Genesis Academy, Mrs. Pauline Beaumont, says students with mental retardation, like Racquel, are not only talented, but are very eager to learn as well.
"I enjoy working with them because they have talent and they can do things. I feel blessed because of the richness they bring ... they are open and willing to try anything," Mrs. Beaumont stated.
Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) say that mental retardation, a condition characterised by abnormal slowness of thought or action and/or slowness or limitation in development, affects an estimated three pre cent of any population.
