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Born with Down Syndrome, sports, particularly swimming, gave Andy the venue to improve his muscle tone and coordination. The combination of training, dedication and natural athleticism has resulted in an astounding 325 Gold medals, 160 Silver medals and countless other medals and ribbons received at the local, state, regional and national levels of competition, across a variety of sports. While Andy excels at many sports, aquatics is his true passion. Andy currently holds multiple American and World records in swimming in both International Paralympic Committee competition and at the World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships, held in Ireland in 2006. Andy’s local swimming coach of many years is Kirk Peppas of the Miami Metro Aquatics. In 2004, Andy braved the chilly and sometimes unforgiving tides of the San Francisco bay in one of the most grueling and prestigious swimming competitions in the world. Along with other Special Olympics athletes from around the world, he swam one nautical mile in the R.C.P. Tiburon Mile. This will be Andy’s first Special Olympics World Games experience and it will be a family affair: Andy’s parents, as well as his brother, Ricky, and sister-in-law will travel to Shanghai to support Andy. Andy will be competing as part of the “invited athlete” program, a new initiative by Special Olympics Inc. being introduced at the 2007 World Games in the sports of aquatics, athletics and cycling, to offer meaningful competition opportunities to athletes who have not been able to find competition within Special Olympics because they are the only athlete(s) in their program competing at such a high level. This program is consistent with Special Olympics’ philosophy of providing competition opportunities to athletes of all abilities. Athletes participating in this initiative have met the qualification criteria set forth by Special Olympics and are members of Team USA. While Andy is the epitome of the Special Olympics champion, he is much more than a successful swimmer; in his hometown of Miami he’s also a celebrity. Andy starred in a Special Olympics television public service announcement, seen throughout the region, and he speaks frequently in the community and at events on behalf of Special Olympics, as a certified Special Olympics Global Messenger. Andy has met countless celebrities and dignitaries through Special Olympics, including President Bill Clinton at a Special Olympics event at the White House. Andy attended Miami-Dade Community College where he took computer classes and now works part time as an office assistant for Special Olympics Miami-Dade; where among his many duties, he oversees the program’s athlete database. He is also bi-lingual in Spanish and English. And when he’s not in the pool, at work, speaking about Special Olympics or studying, Andy somehow finds time to give back to his community. He volunteers at a summer camp at the Miami Rowing Club, teaching young children how to swim, he is a Swimming USA Coach and assists with Special Olympics swimming coaching, he is a spokesman for the ARC of South Florida, he is a junior lifeguard, he has helped build several homes for Habitat for Humanity, across the country and he volunteers at Project Drive, a local school for special needs children. When asked about how Special Olympics has effected his life, Andy says “I love Special Olympics, it is my life. It has taught me that with hard work, dedication and the will to win, I could do anything I wanted to do and be whoever I wanted to be. It showed me that I might have Down Syndrome, but that isn’t the only thing I have. I have the ability to succeed and I did just that. I have a job, I read, I write, I sing, I dance, I have a girlfriend. I’m just like you.” What is Andy looking forward to at the World Games? “Meeting all the athletes from the other countries, seeing China and swimming against the best swimmers from around the world…awesome!” Andy’s parents, Ana Maria and Carlos have said “there are no words that can explain what Special Olympics has done for Andy’s life and our lives. We have seen Andy develop not only in athletics, but in his whole life, as a young man with a place in this world. Andy is full of confidence, self-esteem, discipline and courage, to tackle anything that life could bring. Without Special Olympics sports would never have been part of his life like they are today.” The Miyares’ added “We never dreamed our son would take us all over the world and give us the opportunity to know a joy and unconditional love never known to us before. He is the core of our family.” Records:
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Athlete: Andres “Andy” Miyares