As if participating in 12 Special Olympics sports throughout the year isn’t enough, Marinka VanHage took on another challenge to become one of three 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games athlete ambassadors.
Marinka will be competing in track and field at the Special Olympics BC Summer Games taking place in Prince George from July 10 to 12 that will see 1,100 athletes, along with their coaches and supporters from across the province and Yukon, come together for the competition.
“I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have Special Olympics,” Marinka said.
“I train all year round with my fellow athletes who are my friends. I am very happy that the Special Olympics BC Summer Games are in Prince George so my family and friends can watch me.”
During the BC Summer Games Marinka will be at Masich Place Stadium competing in the 100m, 200m and 400m races and throw shot put and turbo javelin.
Coach and mom Wilma VanHage said at the track she’s coach and Marinka accepts her guidance very well.
“Marinka has this one pace when she runs and she hangs onto it, so she starts off slow,” Wilma explained.
That serves her very well especially in the 400-metre race because as with most athletes, people tend to start really strong at the beginning, she noted.
“And when they start to slow down Marinka will start to overtake them at the 200- or 300-metre mark and it’s kind of fun watching the race,” Wilma said.
Marinka has a very busy life that is centred around the activities offered by the Prince George Special Olympics organization year round. Marinka’s list is impressive and includes swimming and powerlifting, floor ball, rhythmic gymnastics, curling, Club Fit (the mandatory program for competitive athletes), snowshoeing, 10-pin bowling, bocce, golf, soccer and, of course, track and field.
Because she went to eight qualifiers in anticipation of the Special Olympics BC Summer Games Marinka had a tough choice to make.
“I chose track and field because of my coach,” Marinka said with a smile, pointing at her mom.
Her favourite event in track and field is javelin.
“It’s very exciting to be in Prince George for the competition,” Marinka said.
Special Olympics Coach Sylvia Masich knows that ahead of competition Marinka likes to listen to Avril Lavigne’s song Fly about the inner strength and courage it takes when people face challenges. The song was released as a single to raise funds for Special Olympics and the video features Special Olympic athletes in action.
“It’s one of our favourites,” Sylvia said. “We listen to it on repeat when we’re snowshoeing.” That's another sport Sylvia coaches Special Olympics athletes in.
Marinka and Sylvia have a special coach-athlete relationship that is obvious when Marinka sees Sylvia and rushes to give her a hug.
They take to the track together to warm up and then train for Marinka’s upcoming races.
Sylvia and Marinka have made it a tradition to take a selfie every time they run together. There are a lot of selfies of those two on Sylvia’s phone.
“We have a very special relationship,” Sylvia said and Marinka smiled at her and nodded in agreement.
“I am proud to be an athlete in Special Olympics because I am part of a team and I am a role model and help people,” Marinka said. “It makes me happy to help people and you can help people too. You can volunteer. You can come and cheer and you can be a part of something great.”
For more information or to volunteer for the Special Olympics BC Summer Games visit https://www.specialolympics.ca/british-columbia/2025-sobc-summer-games
