By: Chris Munzing
Barbara Seamon is an athlete, make no mistake about it. She is talented, dedicated, and trains daily in anticipation of the day of competition. The fact that Seamon, of Long Beach, has cerebral palsy is secondary. She is an athlete first.
The biggest obstacles most athletes have to face are small in comparison with those faced by members of the Thunderbolts, a team made up of athletes with cerebral palsy.
The Thunderbolts are sponsored by the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (UCPN). Unlike the Special Olympics, which is designed mainly to give people with disabilities a chance to participate in games locally, the Thunderbolts train for the Paralympics.
The Paralympics are similar to the Olympics, taking place a few weeks later and at the same venues. Paralympics are for disabled athletes, but these are the very best in the world and they are out to win, not just participate. Thunderbolts head coach Mary Hodge said that disabled athletes are often looked at as disabled first. Not at the Paralympics, she said.
"They look at them as athletes with disabilities," she said. And the Thunderbolts are no different. "They're athletes who happen to have CP."
Seamon, who participates in boccia, a lawn-bowling game similar to bocce that was created for people with disabilities, joined the team after hearing about it from others in the organization. "I learned about the team ... about eight years ago," she said. "I had a tryout and made the team, and have been part of the team ever since."
Seamon said that being part of the team has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her life. "I like being part of the team because it helps me become a better person by taking on more responsibility," she said.
The Thunderbolts are no weekend warriors; they play to win. Seamon is so talented that she was named to the America's Cup team for boccia in 2000. "Competing pushes me to work as hard as I can in the hopes of achieving my goals, which are to get to the most competitive level possible," she said.
Unfortunately, cerebral palsy is a degenerative disease, and Hodge believes that sooner or later, Seamon will have to make the transition from athlete to coach. Hodge believes, however, that Seamon's impact on others will only increase. "She's provided a great example of what a person with disabilities can do competitively," Hodge said.
Founded 14 years ago, the Thunderbolts have become one of the top teams in the National Disability Sports Alliance. The team burst onto the top tier when team captain Randy Mitchell, a weightlifter, obliterated the American powerlifting record in his weight class in 1997. Since then, the Thunderbolts have consistently proved they are a force to be reckoned with.
Being a national powerhouse, however, cannot change the fact that the Thunderbolts need financial support. Hodge said that to run the team through next year, UCPN needs $23,000. Currently, the team only has $13,000. "We don't want to allow it to end," said Patricia Quinn, UCPN's community outreach manager. "They're absolutely amazing," she said of the athletes. "They really have a lot of courage, and they inspire those of us who work here at the agency."
And everyone outside of agency as well. For more information on the Thunderbolts, contact at (516) 378-2000, extension 421.
