02-26-2006, 01:17 PM
The 2006 Winter Olympics has seen a few flakes falling, and it wasn't snow.
From hotdog snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis to Bode Miller's self-aggrandizing rhetoric, some say the winter games have been tainted with mediocre performances and poor sportsmanship.
None of that stuff bothers Special Olympian skier Crystal Wagner of Walla Walla.
``Being an athlete, I'm just excited. It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's just fun.'
Crystal, 11, will compete in slalom, downhill and giant slalom races at Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort in Wenatchee on March 3, 4 and 5 in Washington's Special Olympics Winter Games 2006.
The Prospect Point Elementary School student will be joined by what is known as a ``unified partner.' Jordan Dugger, 9, will volunteer as a skiing twin, so to speak, making identical runs as Crystal and being part of the recorded run times. Their combined runs will be averaged to decide where Crystal will place.
She definitely likes to go fast, said her coach, Brad Graham. It's her first year, but the youngster seems hooked on the sport. ``Crystal is a natural skier, she blossomed right away,' he said. ``She couldn't stay off the big hill.'
Her mom gets a glimpse of her daughter's competitive edge when she skis alongside Crystal, said Lisa Wagner, also a beginning skier. ``She likes to get down the hill first.'
``And I want to win gold medals,' Crystal added with a quick grin, slightly negating her earlier statement concerning her win-or-lose philosophy.
For Lisa and Dr. Drew Wagner, their little girl has already won, whether or not she ever brings home the gold, silver or bronze.
The joy and pride they feel today would have been difficult to imagine when their daughter was diagnosed with atypical autism at age 2, Lisa said.
``She wasn't doing things how kids should be doing things. She wasn't talking ... she was aloof,' she remembered of Crystal.
A friend suggested testing - the toddler failed each one, Lisa said. ``It was devastating.'
Crystal was their first child, and to receive such news sent her into ``almost like a mourning process,' she said. It was easy to question - ``What happened? What did I do wrong?'
The turnaround came when the Wagners enrolled Crystal in a developmental preschool, which Lisa credits with changing everything. Instead of pondering the past, the couple found themselves facing the future.
``My husband and I got educated about autism. A lot of people are scared of that word, they think `Rain Man,' she said, referring to the Dustin Hoffman movie in which he portrays an autistic adult.
It's common for those uninformed to shy away from disabilities, Lisa said. Crystal has already been the subject of some unkindness from peers.
The child's intense focus on all things unicorn, for example, makes
her interest a target for those unable or unwilling to understand the nature of autism.
It's a passion that brings Crystal a great deal of happiness, evidenced in her room. On this day, she has returned from school, nibbled cookies and begged for an audience to display her prized belongings. From unicorn puppets to unicorn posters to plastic unicorns with plastic saddles, Crystal has amassed a unicorn utopia.
``Look! Look at this,' she said from her top bunk, holding up a pillow appliqued with the single-horned animal, embroidered with her name. In minutes, she's trotted out unicorns from tiny to big, spending a micro-second in admiration for each.
While Drew and Lisa try to help their daughter realize not everyone will be as keen on the mythical creatures as she is, they rebel against defining the norm for Crystal.
``You want her to be normal, but what is normal? Why can't we adapt to her?' Lisa said. ``These people have feelings, they have emotions.'
Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning there are many different levels. Crystal functions at a high level, allowing her to be in a regular classroom, to enjoy Sunday school and to interact well with her four siblings.
Kylee, 9, is her older sister's best teacher, Lisa said. The sisters have been devoted pals, with Kylee patiently guiding Crystal along the path of social cues and appropriate behaviors. ``But now, she's getting to an age to notice.'
She is sometimes asked by other students ``what's wrong with your sister,' the third-grader said. Embarrassing episodes have put the younger girl on alert that Crystal's world is creeping into her own.
While Lisa and Drew are glad Kylee comes to them for answers, they know there may come a time she won't.
It's then the presently strong relationship between Crystal and her siblings, which include Kelsey, 6, Charity, 4, and Caleb, 2, will keep things intact, they hope.
Crystal, too, is beginning to get an inkling she may not be like everyone else on the big yellow school bus that drops the Wagner children off in front of their home. When her mom asks how it feels to hear ``autistic,' the 11-year-old replies ``a little sad.
``Kylee said some of my friends don't like me,' she added, darting a glance at her sister across the dining table.
``And I'm really sorry for that, Crystal,' Kylee responded, looking her older sibling fully in the eye.
In the next second, the duo is back to playing with the new guitar-plunking Barbie doll Crystal got for her February birthday, with Kylee having Cinderella Barbie singing back-up.
``Kylee is nice, she's wise,' Crystal said, but she herself knows ``everything about Kingdom Hearts,' a well-loved children's game.
And, for sure, she knows skiing. ``I love it. It's my favorite sport,' she exclaimed. While other sports are OK, she's not a sports fanatic, Crystal explained. ``But skiing keeps my brain refreshed.'
The structure of the Special Olympics ski program is crucial for Crystal and kids like her, Lisa said. ``I've seen self-confidence. She enjoys it, she loves it.'
Since many of the athletes on the Walla Walla ski team are older than Crystal, she has come along socially, as well, she added. Too, the venue gives the pre-teen a chance at some of the fun others her age are beginning to enjoy, like the dance that will wrap up the competition in Wenatchee.
``Mom and Dad won't let me date until I'm 16,' Crystal chimed in.
``But you can dance in a group, Crystal,' Lisa told her.
This year's ski season has made it obvious to Lisa that Crystal is going to move forward in life, no matter what.
``She's growing up,' Lisa said quietly. ``Watching her go down the hill is like watching her go away from me.'
By Sheila Hagar of the Union-Bulletin
From hotdog snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis to Bode Miller's self-aggrandizing rhetoric, some say the winter games have been tainted with mediocre performances and poor sportsmanship.
None of that stuff bothers Special Olympian skier Crystal Wagner of Walla Walla.
``Being an athlete, I'm just excited. It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's just fun.'
Crystal, 11, will compete in slalom, downhill and giant slalom races at Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort in Wenatchee on March 3, 4 and 5 in Washington's Special Olympics Winter Games 2006.
The Prospect Point Elementary School student will be joined by what is known as a ``unified partner.' Jordan Dugger, 9, will volunteer as a skiing twin, so to speak, making identical runs as Crystal and being part of the recorded run times. Their combined runs will be averaged to decide where Crystal will place.
She definitely likes to go fast, said her coach, Brad Graham. It's her first year, but the youngster seems hooked on the sport. ``Crystal is a natural skier, she blossomed right away,' he said. ``She couldn't stay off the big hill.'
Her mom gets a glimpse of her daughter's competitive edge when she skis alongside Crystal, said Lisa Wagner, also a beginning skier. ``She likes to get down the hill first.'
``And I want to win gold medals,' Crystal added with a quick grin, slightly negating her earlier statement concerning her win-or-lose philosophy.
For Lisa and Dr. Drew Wagner, their little girl has already won, whether or not she ever brings home the gold, silver or bronze.
The joy and pride they feel today would have been difficult to imagine when their daughter was diagnosed with atypical autism at age 2, Lisa said.
``She wasn't doing things how kids should be doing things. She wasn't talking ... she was aloof,' she remembered of Crystal.
A friend suggested testing - the toddler failed each one, Lisa said. ``It was devastating.'
Crystal was their first child, and to receive such news sent her into ``almost like a mourning process,' she said. It was easy to question - ``What happened? What did I do wrong?'
The turnaround came when the Wagners enrolled Crystal in a developmental preschool, which Lisa credits with changing everything. Instead of pondering the past, the couple found themselves facing the future.
``My husband and I got educated about autism. A lot of people are scared of that word, they think `Rain Man,' she said, referring to the Dustin Hoffman movie in which he portrays an autistic adult.
It's common for those uninformed to shy away from disabilities, Lisa said. Crystal has already been the subject of some unkindness from peers.
The child's intense focus on all things unicorn, for example, makes
her interest a target for those unable or unwilling to understand the nature of autism.
It's a passion that brings Crystal a great deal of happiness, evidenced in her room. On this day, she has returned from school, nibbled cookies and begged for an audience to display her prized belongings. From unicorn puppets to unicorn posters to plastic unicorns with plastic saddles, Crystal has amassed a unicorn utopia.
``Look! Look at this,' she said from her top bunk, holding up a pillow appliqued with the single-horned animal, embroidered with her name. In minutes, she's trotted out unicorns from tiny to big, spending a micro-second in admiration for each.
While Drew and Lisa try to help their daughter realize not everyone will be as keen on the mythical creatures as she is, they rebel against defining the norm for Crystal.
``You want her to be normal, but what is normal? Why can't we adapt to her?' Lisa said. ``These people have feelings, they have emotions.'
Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning there are many different levels. Crystal functions at a high level, allowing her to be in a regular classroom, to enjoy Sunday school and to interact well with her four siblings.
Kylee, 9, is her older sister's best teacher, Lisa said. The sisters have been devoted pals, with Kylee patiently guiding Crystal along the path of social cues and appropriate behaviors. ``But now, she's getting to an age to notice.'
She is sometimes asked by other students ``what's wrong with your sister,' the third-grader said. Embarrassing episodes have put the younger girl on alert that Crystal's world is creeping into her own.
While Lisa and Drew are glad Kylee comes to them for answers, they know there may come a time she won't.
It's then the presently strong relationship between Crystal and her siblings, which include Kelsey, 6, Charity, 4, and Caleb, 2, will keep things intact, they hope.
Crystal, too, is beginning to get an inkling she may not be like everyone else on the big yellow school bus that drops the Wagner children off in front of their home. When her mom asks how it feels to hear ``autistic,' the 11-year-old replies ``a little sad.
``Kylee said some of my friends don't like me,' she added, darting a glance at her sister across the dining table.
``And I'm really sorry for that, Crystal,' Kylee responded, looking her older sibling fully in the eye.
In the next second, the duo is back to playing with the new guitar-plunking Barbie doll Crystal got for her February birthday, with Kylee having Cinderella Barbie singing back-up.
``Kylee is nice, she's wise,' Crystal said, but she herself knows ``everything about Kingdom Hearts,' a well-loved children's game.
And, for sure, she knows skiing. ``I love it. It's my favorite sport,' she exclaimed. While other sports are OK, she's not a sports fanatic, Crystal explained. ``But skiing keeps my brain refreshed.'
The structure of the Special Olympics ski program is crucial for Crystal and kids like her, Lisa said. ``I've seen self-confidence. She enjoys it, she loves it.'
Since many of the athletes on the Walla Walla ski team are older than Crystal, she has come along socially, as well, she added. Too, the venue gives the pre-teen a chance at some of the fun others her age are beginning to enjoy, like the dance that will wrap up the competition in Wenatchee.
``Mom and Dad won't let me date until I'm 16,' Crystal chimed in.
``But you can dance in a group, Crystal,' Lisa told her.
This year's ski season has made it obvious to Lisa that Crystal is going to move forward in life, no matter what.
``She's growing up,' Lisa said quietly. ``Watching her go down the hill is like watching her go away from me.'
By Sheila Hagar of the Union-Bulletin