Alberta’s Mengerson family stumbled upon Special Olympics more than 30-years ago.
While visiting Calgary in 1986, Karen Mengerson recognized the “humongous red moustache” of former NHL player Lanny McDonald, one of Special Olympics Canada’s first celebrity ambassadors.
He was in the city for the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games Closing Ceremony.
“We were hooked,” said Karen, adding that she and her late husband immediately signed up to become volunteers once they returned to their hometown of Olds, about an hour north of Calgary.
Karen became the volunteer regional coordinator for the community and signed up her son Mark, who has Down syndrome, for athletics and bowling. She hoped the sports program would keep his weight down and allow him to be his “happy go-lucky self” around others.
Special Olympics has allowed him to do both – and much more.
The now 34-year-old 10-pin bowler has returned from his first World Games competition in Abu Dhabi with a silver and bronze medal.
“I loved it,” Mark said about his first time competing on the world stage.
His goals for the international competition were to “have fun and cheer loud.”
“Mark was a huge part of the bowling team,” said SO Team Canada’s head bowling coach, Rebecca Norton. “Through some long days and gruelling schedules, Mark always had a smile on his face.”
“Whether he was dancing or teaching the team how to ‘Weehaw!’ – which became our unofficial bowling cheer – Mark was outgoing and fully enjoyed his World Games experience.”
His silver medal in the team event and bronze in doubles was the icing on the World Games cake for the experienced athlete.
“Mark bowled really well,” said Norton. “He was focused and determined to take everything he had been working on since October and turn them into podium performances.”
In the lead up to the international competition, Mark was dedicated to a strict training regimen – not just hitting the bowling alley regularly, but working out everyday and enlisting the help of a personal trainer.
“I knew that being involved in the gym would help him to keep his weight down and he’s quite a slender young man - much stronger than I am,” said Karen, adding that his training will continue
According to Karen, before leaving for the UAE, Mark would only talk about the upcoming World Games with his siblings, nephews and nieces.
“They were almost tired of hearing about it,” Karen said with a laugh.
Now that he’s returned, he’s got even more to share: an impressive medal count and a lifetime’s worth of memories.