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The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, July 20,1994 aralympic Athletes Prepare for World Championships in Germany With very little fanfare surrounding surrounding their departure, Canada's finest paralympic athletes boarded a plane at Pearson International Airport on Sunday. They are bound for the world championships in Berlin, Germany. Germany. Two of Canada's most promising gold medal hopefuls are Bowman- ville's Rob Snoek, and Newcastle's Jim Shaw. The lion's share of the media attention attention on Sunday, however, was directed directed towards the World Cup soccer soccer final which pitted the eventual winners from Brazil against a game Italian squad. , A worldwide audience watched the game, which was heralded as the pinnacle of the sport. Aside from the soccer final, golf enthusiasts were tuned to fourth and final round coverage of the British Open, regarded as one of the toughest toughest of the four major tournaments on the PGA tour. And any media who were left, were out in full force at Toronto's Molson Indy, as the finest racecar drivers in the world showcased their enormous talents. All three events assembled the best in the world at their chosen sport. And to the victors in each, celebrations by their fellow countrymen countrymen and women ensued, as they became became united as one if only for just a fleeting moment. The feeling of unity among people people representing the same country would have been evident aboard the plane headed for Europe on Sunday. Some of the athletes may have fidgeted nervously in anticipation of the long flight as the plane made its way to the runway. Others may have sat back and relaxed, drawing strength from the hours of training that they have dedicated for the opportunity opportunity to compete against the world's best For a veteran of world class competitions competitions like Snoek, his thoughts undoubtedly would have been centered centered around achieving a medal. Such an accomplishment is certainly within his grasp. Shaw, on the other hand, may have been pinching himself to ensure ensure that the overseas trip he was embarking on was actually real, and not just another trip he was left home to dream about. Too many past disappointments event is the equivalent to the Olympics Olympics for disabled athletes. No such exclusion from the Canadian Canadian team took place this time. In fact, Shaw is expected to be quite busy during the world championships, championships, which will conduct their opening ceremonies on Friday, July 22, and close on July 31. He will compete in three field events, including the shotput, discus and javelin. The 21-year-old was experiencing experiencing nervousness like never before as the departure date drew closer. So much so, that his allergies kept him awake through most of the night last week. "This is going to be big and I am really nervous," he admitted. "My coach said that all the other meets I've gone in (pale in comparison) to this one." ' 7 get the impression that people think if I don't win a medal, I'll be disappointed. If I go and have a personal best, and run and jump as fast as I can, then I'm not going to be disappointed." -Rob Snoek have left him leery right up to the time of departure. "One of my friends asked me if I had been cut from the team yet and it really scared me," said Shaw, referring referring to the good-natured kidding he endured from teammates at Variety Variety Village leading up to the trip. It was only two short years ago, while preparing to attend the Summer Summer Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, that Shaw suffered one of the biggest disappointments in his athletic career. Because of a lack of entries by other countries for his events, he was denied an opportunity to compete compete at Barcelona. The world-class The world championships are an opportunity for Shaw to make amends for the lost opportunity two years ago at the Summer Paralympic Games. In contrast, the opportunity to showcase his immense athletic ability ability was something that Snoek took advantage of at the 1992 Paralympic Games. He recorded fifth place finishes in each of the 100 metre, 200 metre and long jump events. In the 4x100 metre relay, he helped the Canadian team to a fourth place finish. At the time, Snoek entertained thoughts of ending his association with competitive sports at the elite level. He had completed what, for him, was the entire focus of all of the countless hours of training and travelling the globe. But after re-evaluating his situation situation following the Paralympics, he decided to continue. "Being in Barcelona and seeing the excitement that was there and the crowds, it helped to create a long lasting interest in the Paralympic Paralympic movement," he said while taking taking time out from an intense training session at Civic Fields in Oshawa. The world championships provide provide a gauge for Snoek, which will help him chart a course for the next countries are expected to converge in Berlin for the world championships. championships. The Canadian contingent will include close to 50 athletes, as well as 20 officials. Ontario is the largest contributor to the team, with 18 athletes and 12 officials making the trip. Shaw is designated as a Class C8 athlete. This class is for athletes with cerebral palsy. He is the current current Canadian and world record holder in the discus, and naturally a favourite to strike gold. He also has the provincial record in both the shot put and javelin events. At the recently-completed Ontario Ontario Games for the Physically Disabled, Disabled, he recorded a 37 metre toss in the discus, a 10.78 metre shot put, and a 30 metre javelin. Aside from the strong support he has received from his family, members members of the community have also chipped in by assisting in fundraising fundraising for the trip to Berlin. A hot dog sale in his honor was conducted by his friends at the Durham Durham Hotwheels Club. The Bowman- ville Legion and Kinsmen Clubs have continued to back him financially. financially. The hockey ladies in Newcastle Newcastle also combined their efforts and presented Shaw with a cheque to help defray some of the costs. Snoek will be receiving similar support as he embarks on his trip to Berlin for the world championships. His parents, along with his wife, Pam, and daughter, Victoria, will be in attendance. It is the strength of the support from his family that has enabled him to continue to pursue his dream of competing. A number of sacrifices sacrifices have been made along the way, and Snoek is quick to credit his family family for their patience and understanding. understanding. And now, with his 11-month-old daughter following his progress, the motivation for training and the results results at competitions arc all the more gratifying. "At the track, when I might be slacking off, I think about this little joy I have to go home to," he said. His family life may have helped ' him get through some difficult times lately. A knee injury suffered while playing hockey this past winter has hampered his training. He is currently seeing Dr. Michael Michael Clairfield, who is associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs. There is some concern that arthroscopic arthroscopic surgery will be required in the fall to repair the damage. Should the injury necessitate time off, it will allow the 25-year- Newcastle's Jim Shaw, the world record holder in his class for the discus, is a favourite to win a medal in Berlin, Germany, host site of the Paralympic World Championships. In addition to the discus, Jim will compete in the shot put and javelin events. BRIGADIER SPECIAL P215X60RX14 RWL $75 /ns ^" ed P215X65RX15 RWL $84 Balanced made by GENERAL TIRE © Not exactly as illustrated. When you think tires, call y Van Hemmen Tires © EEO^ 317 Hopkins St., Whitby • 666-2121 ' 'This is going to be big and I am really nervous. My coach said that all the other meets I've gone in (pale in comparison) to this one. -Jim Shaw Rob Snoek sprints by in preparation for the Paralympic World Championships dial will get underway this weekend in Berlin, Germany. Germany. The Bowmanvillc resident will compete in the 100 metre, 200 metre, and long jump events. Carrier Needed to Deliver ^ Foxhunt [rail area in Courtice Phone 623-0837 or 623-3303 Summer Paralympic Games, scheduled scheduled for Atlanta in 1996. There is no equal to him in Canada. Canada. An amputee from the knee down on the left leg, testing his ability against world class competition is both necessary and mandatory if he is to get an idea how he is progressing. progressing. All the while, he is ranking this competition just slightly behind the long-term goal of running and jumping jumping his fastest and farthest in two years' time in Atlanta. "These world championships arc a huge step on the way there," he agreed. And because of his domination in his events in this country, and the experience of competing in front of a packed stadium in Barcelona, expectations expectations for a strong performance may be a little higher than what is expected of some of the other athletes. athletes. But the pressure to achieve a place on the medal podium, says Snoek, comes from outsiders, and isn't something he places on his shoulders. "I gel the impression dial people think if I don't win a medal, I'll be disappointed. If I go and have a [)cr- sonal best, and run and jump as fast as I can, then I'm not going to be disappointed," All of the events at the world championships will be held in the Olympic Stadium that was constructed constructed for the 1936 Olympic Games. It is the same site where llie immortal Jesse Owens of the United States become a track and field legend legend after winning four gold medals, More than 1450 athletes, as well as 650 officials representing 56 old to become belter acquainted with the job of athlete's representative representative to the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC). The job entails being a liaison between the athletes and the organizing body, as well as being the CPC rep to the Canadian Athletes Association. The position affords him the opportunity opportunity to put something back into the sport, and pave the way for future future athletes. Drawing from his experience experience at CHUM radio, he hopes to clear up some of the speculation and misinformation that the media and general public have about paralympic paralympic athletes. All of the events at the Worth Championships will be helh in the Olympic Stahim that was constructed for the I93S Olympic Games "There were times when I was frustrated and felt that maybe I could make a change," he said of his decision to become involved. But on this day, as both Shaw and Snoek prepare to face the best die world has to offer, any disap- pointmenls or frustrations that cither athlete has faced along die way are in the past. Both are looking ahead to the future, which hopefully holds a place at the Atlanta Games in 1996. For now, a strong showing -- and pcrlinps a medal -- would set the stage for promising futures. 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