Alexander Pang

How long have you been involved with Special Olympics?

17 years.

How did you first get involved with Special Olympics and how has it changed your life?

I started off with Can Skate to work on my core strength, and little did I know, this involvement with Special Olympics allowed me to achieve things I didn't know I was capable of.

What is a challenge or barrier that you have overcome?

One of the barriers that I had to overcome was being able to be more confident when it comes to doing my sport. How I overcame this obstacle was to make sure that I was enjoying my time performing on the ice and have fun with it. What it taught me was that you should enjoy the activity that you do, and when you perform, have fun and smile.

What has been your favourite memory with Special Olympics?

My proudest moment is being able to represent Special Olympics Team Canada, and to showcase my hard work as a Special Olympics athlete. 

What has participating in Special Olympics taught you?

I have been fortunate enough to be able to extend my knowledge and apply my skills in figure skating to coaching individuals like myself, and teaching them the fun of being on skates.

What does being part of Special Olympics Team Canada mean to you and what is your goal for Turin?

Being part of Special Olympics Team Canada means to me that I can enjoy my skating performance on a global scale to show the world my skating and how proud I am to do it. My goal for Turin is to enjoy the culture of that region in the Italy while also making sure that I get to compete in my top shape.

What do you want people to know about athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities?

That we are no different to everyone, and the support of the community can help us believe in ourselves and strive to be as exceptional as we know we can be.

What would you say to someone thinking of getting involved in Special Olympics?

If I had to give advice to share with another athlete who is thinking about signing up, I would say go for a sport that is new to you and see if you would like it. The reason why is because, to me, trying new things can be scary, however if you don't try it you will never know if it is really scary. If you enjoy it, then do it and if you don't well at least you can try another Special Olympics sport!