Mario Richard

How long have you been involved with Special Olympics?

I have been involved since 1997.

How did you first introduced to the movement and what got you hooked?

I was first introduced by a Special Olympics figure skater whose coach moved away, so I became her coach. Working alongside this athlete and witnessing her compete at her first Special Olympics Provincial Games got me hooked.

How has Special Olympics impacted your life?

It has given me so many opportunities and opened the door to many positive experiences in my life. I love coaching Special Olympics athletes. I started a Special Olympics Chapter in my region as there wasn’t one at the time, and we now have 50+ athletes that enjoy Special Olympics programs in our community.

What is your favourite part about your role on the team?

Working with the athletes, training coaches, team coaches and mission staff leading up to the Games. Then of course, going to the Games and seeing the athletes perform their best is just amazing.

What is your proudest moment with Special Olympics?

There are so many – the Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017, Molly winning a silver medal in 2023. But having my Acadian Peninsula region athletes participate at the Special Olympics New Brunswick Provincial Summer Games in swimming, track, soccer and bocce, is a special memory. This was the first time since the 1980's that any AP athletes had participated in a Provincial Summer Games. To give these athletes the chance to compete, who did not otherwise have this opportunity, was definitely one of my greatest accomplishments. The soccer team won Provincials that summer and got to participate at Nationals the next year in Antigonish, NS.

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

Representing your country is an amazing feeling. My goal for Turin is to have the skaters be well prepared in all aspects – physical, emotional, mental – and be able to give their best performance ever on the world stage.

What unique skills or experiences do you bring to your role as a coach, mission staff or team leadership and what drives you to support and inspire the athletes every day?

I bring Games experience, technical knowledge in the sport of figure skating and a positive atmosphere to Special Olympics Team Canada. The athletes themselves inspire me by seeing all their hard work to accomplish their goals, regardless of the challenges.

What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering with Special Olympics?

Just give of yourself for an hour a week to make a difference in someone's life. It will definitely make a difference in yours in so many ways you never expected.