Committeeman Tom Wilkens (back row, center) joins Special Olympics athletes and volunteers who were honored May 19. MIDDLETOWN – When Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger heard that the Township Committee would be presenting the township’s Special Olympics athletes with a certificate of recognition, he knew the perfect man to speak to them.
“Who better to talk to the Special Olympics athletes and about the Olympic spirit than our own Olympian, Tom Wilkens?” Scharfenberger said.
A bronze medalist in the 200 individual medley at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, Wilkens is a 17-time U.S. national champion swimmer and a five-time NCAA champion.
Wilkens is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Trials Selection Committee, serves on the board of directors for USA Swimming Inc. and was the recipient of The New York Times Young Citizen Award in 1994.
He spoke to the athletes at the May 19 Township Committee meeting about how proud he is of their accomplishments and took the time to tell them a story about the Olympic tradition.
“In my experience, you guys, in your participation, you represent what the Olympics are all about,” Wilkens said. “I’m going to give you all a brief history lesson and hopefully you can all take something away.”
He told the story of ancient Greece, where the Olympics were first held, and the principles that the Greeks lived by.
“The ancient Greek society revolved around two principles: agon and arete,” Wilkens said. “Agon is defined as the struggle or contest. Arete is defined as the victory or success.”
He explained that athletes focus on the agon, or struggle, to accomplish the arete, or victory.
“In participating and doing the best you can, you will be successful regardless of the outcome of the race,”Wilkens said. “[By] doing the best you can possibly do, you are successful, and I want to congratulate you for your participation. I urge you to keep going and succeed.”
Wilkens then introduced Middletown Special Olympics Administrator Jack Saylor, who said it was a great privilege to introduce and speak about the athletes he has worked with over the years.
“It’s just wonderful the way things have come together,” Saylor said. “From the athletes, to the parents, to the volunteers, this is not possible without all of you.”
Last year the regional events of the Special Olympics were held at Toms River High School South, and included athletes from Monmouth and Ocean counties. This year’s statewide events will be held June 6-8 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing and the opening ceremonies will be at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton.
Every athlete received a certificate, a handshake from Wilkens, and a fist pump from Scharfenberger.
“This year we thought we were going to have a problem in getting kids to sign up, because they said their friends weren’t doing it, and they had to be pushed,” Saylor said. “But when they get onto the field, whether it’s running or throwing the softball, these kids are loving it.”
Saylor also took the time to thank the volunteers.
“It’s great to see how much all of these people care about the events,” Saylor said. “You can tell they have it in their hearts.”
Scharfenberger said that the athletes make Middletown proud.
“With the football teams at both high schools and the hockey teams, Middletown has a strong sports tradition,” Scharfenberger said. “These athletes help add to this great sports town.”