Danielle Pechet, a Special Olympics track and field athlete, lost her brother four years ago. She points to the sky at every finish line, knowing he’s watching over her.
“I just know he’s up there, and I honour him — it’s for him,” Danielle said.
“She always dedicates everything she does to her brother, and he’s the one she sees at the finish line,” said Danielle’s mom, Debbie McManus.
“We all have necklaces with his ashes in them, so my son is always with us — just in a different way,” she added. “I love that that’s what she chose — to dedicate her efforts to her brother. It’s just what she does.”
Danielle and her mom travelled from Vernon, in Region 2, to participate in the Special Olympics BC Summer Games, held July 10 to 12 in Prince George. About 900 athletes with intellectual disabilities competed in 10 different sports.
Danielle, a long-distance runner and snowshoer, has been involved with Special Olympics for the past five years.
“Danielle runs a lot, and I thought, why don’t we try something that isn’t running — and now she loves the javelin,” Debbie said. “She’s a distance runner, and this year she did the 3,000 metres for the first time, as well as the 1,500. But the 800 metres is her favourite.”
Danielle recently returned from the World Games in Italy, where she competed in the 800 metres in March. She is ranked fourth in the world and won bronze in that event.
Debbie said it took some convincing to get Danielle to join Special Olympics in Vernon.
“Honestly, she thought she wouldn’t fit in. She thought she was different, so it took her a very long time,” Debbie said. “But Special Olympics has changed her.”
Some of Danielle’s coaches have noticed the transformation.
“They’ve come up to me already this weekend to say how mature she is, how well she holds herself, and how healthy she looks,” Debbie said. “And I said, thank you for noticing — she’s worked hard.”
Danielle said nutrition is key to participating in Special Olympics events, and she offered other words of advice.
“Make sure you get plenty of sleep, and most importantly, just train the best you can,” she said.
“Don’t compare yourself to others. Just focus on yourself. That’s what being in Special Olympics has taught me — don’t focus on other people. They’re going to do their own race, and I’m going to have to do my own.”
Danielle is relatively new to throwing the turbo javelin. She said she was inspired by April Armstrong’s impressive run-up and throws.
“I feel very good,” she said about her performance. “And I know all my people back home will be super proud of me.”
She also got some helpful advice from an official, Ryan Harris, during a practice throw.
“As soon as I did my practice, I made sure I did it right,” Danielle said.
“I looked at one of the other competitors who did her running approach before releasing the javelin, and I know I can’t compare myself. I’m just new at this. I might get better, but it will take time and practice.”
Before joining Special Olympics, Debbie said Danielle often felt lost.
“She would always say, ‘Well, I’m going to kill time today,’” Debbie recalled. “And she would just be on a device, because that’s what she knew.”
Debbie is head coach of the Special Olympics Vernon track and field and snowshoeing teams.
“Danielle is really kind, kind, kind,” she said.
She added that Danielle’s performance at the BC Summer Games impressed her.
“Even though she walked some parts of her races, she finished. She persevered, and it was really difficult,” Debbie said. “That’s what Special Olympics does — it’s helped her know she can do it. It’s a beautiful, amazing community, and I think every single person on our planet should come and experience one Special Olympics event in their lifetime.”
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