Friends Circle in conversation with Mirjam Prahst-Martinez and Sabine Schmitz
Pulling the Starting Ropes: A Heartfelt Chat with Mirjam Prahst-Martínez and Sabine Schmitz of Special Olympics Niedersachsen
In this month, we've chatted with Mirjam Prahst-Martínez, an athlete and speaker for Special Olympics Niedersachsen, and Sabine Schmitz, the organization's business office leader. They shared their experiences with Special Olympics, the public's general impression, and the upcoming regional competitions.
How did you both get involved with the Special Olympics?
Mirjam Prahst-Martínez (MPM): I've been swimming for a long time ... and a friend's mom once talked about the Special Olympics and said, "This is great, you should check it out." And that's how I ended up there. My mom thought I was around 14 to 16 years old at the time.
Sabine Schmitz (SS): I've been the business office leader for Special Olympics Niedersachsen for 16 years. I was already involved with Special Olympics before that and have been part of it for 20 years now. My first encounters were in my hometown where I heard about the Special Olympics in the newspaper. One of the founders of Special Olympics Germany comes from my neighboring town.
MPM: In the athlete's council, we essentially advise the board and the business office, which is why it's so important because we look at things from the athletes' perspective: we see the problems individual sports teams and events might have. We then report and make a real impact – it's fun! Last year, I also became the Federal Athlete Speaker, which is even more exciting. I swim quite a bit within the Special Olympics' framework.
SS: I became part of Special Olympics Niedersachsen in 2019, after joining the athlete's council. In 2022, the athlete's council elected Mirjam as the speaker. She is with her deputy part of the board.
MPM: In the athlete's council, we're ultimately responsible for advising the board and the business office, hence its importance, because we see things from the athletes' perspective: athletes identify the problems in individual sports teams and events. We then relay these issues further. We really accomplish a lot while having a blast! Besides swimming, I've also been the Federal Athlete Speaker since last year, which is equally exhilarating. I swim quite a bit within the context of Special Olympics.
SS: I've been the business office leader of Special Olympics Niedersersachsen since 2006. I was involved with Special Olympics before that and am with it for 20 years now. My first connections were from my hometown, where I read about the Special Olympics in the newspaper. One of the founders of Special Olympics Germany comes from my neighboring town.
What percentage of people do you think can easily get involved with "Special Olympics"?
MPM: Well, the Special Olympics are often confused with the Paralympics, so it requires a bit of clarification: "No, no, we're talking about the Special Olympics – it's a different matter from the Paralympics."
What's the difference then?
MPM: At the Special Olympics, primarily people with intellectual or multiple disabilities participate.
SS: Exactly. At the Paralympics, athletes with physical impairments mostly compete. As the Paralympics have evolved, they are now considered high-performance sports. Meanwhile, the Special Olympics focuses on participatory and accessible sports for anyone, regardless of the type or severity of intellectual disabilities. It also features an inclusive competitive system called Unified Sports. In addition, Special Olympics is more than just a competition format – it encourages participation and belonging for people with intellectual disabilities, helping them advocate for their interests, develop their sports abilities, and improve their health.
How can Special Olympics be compared to the Olympics?
SS: The comparison between Special Olympics and the Olympics is different; Special Olympics isn't the high-performance sports that the latter is known for. The achievements our athletes bring are better evaluated on a different scale. Our main focus is the individual athlete: the athlete's ability to improve and gain self-confidence. Winning a medal is great, but witnessing an athlete grow and gain self-confidence is equally significant.
How would you say the public's interest level is? Are there anything near the limit?
SS: The public's perception seems to have changed with the upcoming World Games. We're witnessing increased awareness and acceptance. There's far more interest and people coming forward to inquire about engagement opportunities. This is very positive.
MPM: But we've always had room for growth. Things are getting better all the time.
What could be a realistic goal, something achievable and desirable, where people might say, "That's where we want to be"?
SS: We hope for our athletes to receive the same recognition as other athletes receive. We're doing a lot in public relations to increase awareness. During the regional competitions taking place from June 4th to June 6th in Hannover, you'll see a lot of us in the city.
The women's soccer has made significant strides recently in terms of public visibility. Are you optimistic that society will continue to progress and become more open-minded?
SS: Yes, we're optimistic. The media coverage for the World Games was fantastic. At its core, we're about performance, emotions, and camaraderie – these values were effectively conveyed through the media and appreciated by the audience.
MPM: I came to swimming through water therapy. When I was about two years old, I had regular knowledge gymnastics. Then they tried me out with a water crib – I never wanted to go back to that normal room without that crib. So I came to swimming. And at six years old, I began proper training.
Have you tried any other sports?
MPM: Yes, I've tried a few things. I played wheelchair basketball for a while, wheelchair badminton and table tennis ... What else have I done? Skiing! I've also done that. So I've tried my hand at different things ...
SSM: As an organization, we wish to provide more training opportunities for people with disabilities – more and better.
MPM: I'm a member of Hannover 96.
A member since teenage years?
MPM: No, when I was a child, I was first part of the rolling sports community in Langenhagen, and now I'm with Hannover 96.
What has been your greatest challenge so far?
MPM: The World Games were my toughest challenge: I trained for six months straight. Nothing else mattered besides swimming, swimming, swimming ... That was my biggest challenge.
What can spectators expect at the regional competition? Why should they attend?
MPM: The Special Olympics are lively and joyful. People smile widely and exude immense happiness. There are also numerous events for those who aren't athletes. The opening and closing ceremonies are also worth attending.
SS: During the regional competition, we have eight sports: badminton, table tennis, track and field, swimming, judo, soccer, tennis, and handball. Athletes can qualify for the National Games through these competitions. It's about more than just the sports; we have a fantastic program planned. The opening ceremony begins on June 4th at 6:30 pm in front of the New Town Hall. Admission is free, open to all, and we warmly welcome everyone. At the sports venues, no tickets are required for spectators. We are at the Erika-Fisch-Stadion, Hannover 78, Sportleistungszentrum, Landessportbund, and Stadionbad. The sports venues are located close to each other, creating an excellent, compact atmosphere where spectators can watch multiple sports simultaneously. We also have a large action mile with participatory events. The closing ceremony is then on Friday afternoon at the Erika-Fisch-Stadion.
A scandal involving Luke Mockridge and insensitive remarks about the Paralympics sparked debates last fall. How often are such incidents encountered, and how are responses typically handled?
MPM: What Luke Mockridge did was far from funny. It comes down to the tone in which such jokes are made. My brother always calls me a "gangster rapper" when I'm spastic, as I have a form of dystonia where I experience spastic episodes from time to time – there are certain periods where my hand, leg, or head cramps. This affects my training, but I'm aware of my condition. When my brother calls me that, it's just a playful banter. Luke Mockridge's comments, however, were quite mean-spirited, as previously mentioned: it's all about the tone.
In relation to sports, Mirjam Prahst-Martínez and Sabine Schmitz shared their involvement with the Special Olympics. Mirjam, a member of Hannover 96, initially got involved after being introduced to the organization by a friend's mother. On the other hand, Sabine, the business office leader of Special Olympics Niedersachsen, discovered the organization through newspaper articles in her hometown. Despite initial misconceptions between the Special Olympics and the Paralympics, the organization focuses on providing participatory and accessible sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The upcoming regional competitions are set to showcase this inclusive and joyful atmosphere, where spectators can expect a variety of sports events, including basketball, as well as numerous participatory events for non-athletes.
