May 4, 2024

For Special Olympics athletes competing Saturday on Long Island in Massapequa, making connections beats taking home a medal About 600 athletes competed in the Special Olympics New York Spring Games at Plainedge High School in Massapequa on Saturday. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin By Lorena Mongelli lorena.mongelli@newsday.com Share For hundreds of Special Olympics athletes participating in the annual Spring Games in Massapequa on Saturday, their sights might be on winning, but some said the real magic happens behind the scenes. Born with Down syndrome, 18-year-old Janissa Lloyd has been training for the Special Olympics in New York for over eight years, amassing a collection of 10 gold and silver medals for a variety of sports, including floor hockey, basketball, softball and track. On Saturday morning, the “Warrior Princess” grimaced while squatting with a bar in a powerlifting event, her second year competing in that category. “Janissa is very serious about competing,” her mother, Elvia Salinas-Kahyaoglu, 47, of Brentwood, said. And although her daughter won four gold medals, it’s the connections that will endure. “I consider this to be a second family. We train together, we have the same goals. The kids look out for each other,” she said. Their kinship is demonstrated in kind acts, her mom said, noting that when Janissa was struggling to tie her shoelace, a teammate stepped in to help. Lloyd was one of nearly 600 athletes with intellectual disabilities from Long Island and New York City taking center stage in track & field, tennis, powerlifting, and swimming competitions at Plainedge High School, in front of hundreds of spectators. Some participants will qualify for the state games. Stacey Hengsterman, CEO and president of Special Olympics in New York, said sponsors help fund the roughly $12 million organization, making it free to join. The number of participants has grown from 32,000 statewide in 2021 to now more than 45,000. “Really the heart and soul of it is in every day, and that's when we're there for athletes. When they go home today, they're going to be proud, maybe they’ll be a little disappointed, but they're definitely going to have a good time,” she said. Hengsterman said her 20-year-old son, Alex,  who has Down syndrome, began competing when she started working at the nonprofit six years ago and it’s been a game-changer. “It gives him something to be to be proud of and something to work for,” she said. Daniel Fletcher, of East Moriches, explained why he loves the games, including all the coaches and teams. “Special Olympics is a family,” Fletcher, 36, said. For hundreds of Special Olympics athletes participating in the annual Spring Games in Massapequa on Saturday, their sights might be on winning, but some said the real magic happens behind the scenes. Born with Down syndrome, 18-year-old Janissa Lloyd has been training for the Special Olympics in New York for over eight years, amassing a collection of 10 gold and silver medals for a variety of sports, including floor hockey, basketball, softball and track. On Saturday morning, the “Warrior Princess” grimaced while squatting with a bar in a powerlifting event, her second year competing in that category. Special Olympics athlete Jordan Rose, 14, of Uniondale, known as JoJo, carries the Olympic torch with the Nassau County Police Department at the Spring Games at Plainedge High School in Massapequa on Saturday. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin “Janissa is very serious about competing,” her mother, Elvia Salinas-Kahyaoglu, 47, of Brentwood, said. And although her daughter won four gold medals, it’s the connections that will endure. “I consider this to be a second family. We train together, we have the same goals. The kids look out for each other,” she said. Their kinship is demonstrated in kind acts, her mom said, noting that when Janissa was struggling to tie her shoelace, a teammate stepped in to help. Sign up for the NewsdayTV newsletter From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. Sign up By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . Lloyd was one of nearly 600 athletes with intellectual disabilities from Long Island and New York City taking center stage in track & field, tennis, powerlifting, and swimming competitions at Plainedge High School, in front of hundreds of spectators. Some participants will qualify for the state games. Special Olympics athlete Liam Enriquez, 9. of Islip, jumps for joy after winning first place in his track & field race at Long Island Spring Games at Plainedge High School in Massapequa on Saturday. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin Stacey Hengsterman, CEO and president of Special Olympics in New York, said sponsors help fund the roughly $12 million organization, making it free to join. The number of participants has grown from 32,000 statewide in 2021 to now more than 45,000. “Really the heart and soul of it is in every day, and that's when we're there for athletes. When they go home today, they're going to be proud, maybe they’ll be a little disappointed, but they're definitely going to have a good time,” she said. Hengsterman said her 20-year-old son, Alex,  who has Down syndrome, began competing when she started working at the nonprofit six years ago and it’s been a game-changer. “It gives him something to be to be proud of and something to work for,” she said. Daniel Fletcher, of East Moriches, explained why he loves the games, including all the coaches and teams. “Special Olympics is a family,” Fletcher, 36, said. By Lorena Mongelli