By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
The best part of the Special Olympics is the confidence the athletes gain from participating in organized sports and the friendships that form along the way.
”I am really good at team spirit and I learned confidence, I’m not nervous,” said Traci Fischer, a 17-year-old Plainsboro Special Olympian. The games helped build her confidence by letting her learn that she can do anything she sets her mind to.
The teen participates in track, soccer, basketball and cross-country skiing, but track is her favorite “because I’m good,” she said. And she has the hardware to give her bragging rights: winning one gold medal in the relay and a silver medal in the 100 meter race at the USA National Games in Nebraska last year. She competes in the 100 meter, 200 meter and relay races, with the relay being her favorite, “because you don’t have to run far.”
Ms. Fischer recently helped to present Gov. Chris Christie with a Team New Jersey jersey at a press conference announcing the games had been awarded to New Jersey, particularly the Mercer County area.
The junior at West Windsor Plainsboro High School North has been involved with Special Olympics since sixth grade. This will be her fifth year participating with the organization.
This was the first year she participated in basketball instead of cross-country, said her mother, Maria Fischer.
”She definitely gets the feeling of accomplishment and team work,” she said.
”She also learns about pushing herself and setting a goal. She’s learned how to function as a member of a team, which was really relevant with basketball. They learned how to rely on each other.”
With the soccer program, it took many years before Traci was confident enough to develop into an athlete with the drive to win and become an active participant, not holding back on the sidelines.
Going to Nebraska last year also gave Traci life skills.
”She learned a lot of independent living skills and how to depend upon herself,” said Mrs. Fischer. “It was a great growth experience; it was a phenomenal experience and everything was run really well. It’s fabulous to see Traci competing and to see how far she’s come athletically in the program.”
Special Olympics participation is more than just sports. “It’s a great social networking opportunity,” she said. “They’re able to have friends, outside of school she’s not involved with the typical kids, so this is a great social outlet for them. It’s another avenue for her to have social interaction with her own peer group.”
Her daughter agreed, saying the best part of participating in the games is the friends she’s made and her coaches.
”They are above and beyond any other organization that we’ve dealt with,” they focus entirely on the child with a can-do attitude, said Mrs. Fischer. “When the kids are there doing the athletics, the parents get together and talk and support each other.”
Hometown pride will be shining with the Fischer family, whether they are cheering Traci on or not.
”It is so exciting they are going to be in New Jersey, we were lucky to be involved last year in Nebraska,” Mrs. Fischer said. “Even if she doesn’t compete, we will watch the events, they are so exciting and it’s amazing to see the athletes perform and its so uplifting.”
And having home field advantage has its benefits.
”I like that the national games are going to be in New Jersey because I don’t like planes, I’m scared of planes,” said Traci Fischer. “That’s cool.”

