One of Nolan Harvey’s favorite parts of the Special Olympics doesn’t actually take place at the Special Olympics itself.
It’s what comes afterward, when he and his teammates board a Juneau-bound plane and get a special message from the pilot over the loudspeaker.
“He congratulates us,” Harvey said.
Harvey will soon be returning from another Special Olympics, but unlike his past statewide competitions featuring solely Alaskans, this one will bring together over 4,000 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and celebrate opening ceremonies in an outdoor football stadium that seats 70,000.
Harvey is one of 25 athletes from the Last Frontier going to the Special Olympics USA Games, which begin on Sunday in Seattle. He’s the sole athlete from Juneau that will be going. It’s the first time the quadrennial event has taken place west of the Rocky Mountains since beginning 12 years ago.
According to the USA Games website, with over 90,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers, families and spectators attending, its the biggest sporting event in Seattle in over 25 years.
“It feels like going to the real Olympics to us,” CJ Johnson, Harvey’s mom, said. “To think of Nolan marching up there in the opening ceremony and competing in front of a big crowd in a big swimming facility (King County Aquatics Center) like that. It’s very exciting. It’s a big honor to represent Alaska.”
Harvey — one of just two swimmers on Team Alaska along with Mat-Su’s Erica Pletting — will swim the 50-meter freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. Earlier this month at Alaska’s Special Olympics, Harvey won silver in the freestyle and bronze in the backstroke, setting new personal bests in both races. Harvey swam the 50 freestyle in 1 minute, 6 seconds and the 50 backstroke in 1 minute, 21 seconds.
Paul Enriquez, a lifeguard at Dimond Park Aquatics Center, has been helping prepare Harvey over the last few months and has been impressed with Harvey’s drive.
“I think he really wants this,” Enriquez said. “Whenever we are training … he keeps doing it without question.”
Janette Gagnon, a special education teacher at Juneau-Douglas High School, will be taking in the Games with Harvey’s family in Seattle. Gagnon has taught Harvey for eight years: four in high school and four in a program that teaches life and job skills. She said competitive swimming has helped Harvey develop his own identity that’s unique from his twin brother, Ryan.
“Throughout high school and all the way up until now he’s really worked hard to choose the things he likes so he can be his own person instead of just being considered one of the twins,” Gagnon said.
Even though he will be traveling with an entourage of parents and friends, Harvey will be doing many things independently.
“Living in Juneau and being part of this community, he doesn’t really get to be that independent very often,” Johnson said. “Everyone knows him and anticipates what his needs. And in this case, he’s got to depend on himself. He’s got people there to help him, but not people that know him really well.”
The USA Games will offer 13 other sports, including golf, powerlifting, soccer and stand-up paddleboard. Closing ceremonies will take place at Lake Union Park on Friday, July 6.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
