Travis Lulay, the Grey Cup-winning quarterback with the B.C. Lions, is sharing what he knows as a professional athlete with a group of competitors who in turn remind him about his love of sport.
Lulay partnered with Special Olympics B.C. and earlier this month was named the honorary coach of the 109-athlete team travelling to Alberta in two weeks for the Canada Winter Games.
"I started playing sports because I love doing it and I love to compete and get out to run around. I ended up making a career out of it but these athletes, they remind you of the love for the game," Lulay said last week while touring the province with the Lions and the Grey Cup.
He volunteered with the international sport organization while playing at Montana State and used his Facebook account to prop up athletes and their accomplishments. His interest in the program was personalized thanks to Jim Laitar, a Special Olympics soccer player from Surrey who won a bronze medal at the 2011 summer games in Greece.
Like Lulay, Laitar also works for the football club. "Jim, or 'Jimbo' as he's known around the locker room, helps out in the equipment room and setting up for practices," said Lulay.
This May, the football professional was on the sidelines, cheering at a soccer tournament where Laitar was competing. "Man, that's just what it's about," he said. "You get a good vibe from the athletes and how much they care about what they're doing and that they have the opportunity to compete in a team setting. Everything that people love about sports, you see the athletes love it in the same way."
The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games begin Feb. 28 in St. Albert, Alta.. Five Vancouver athletes and dozens of volunteers and coaches will travel to the multi-sport competition.
Lulay said he isn't familiar with every sport at these Games, which include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating. But the MVP pivot said his contribution will be that of a seasoned athlete.
"I'll be writing them a motivational letter, getting their blood pumping and getting them excited about what's going on-not that they need any extra help. I'll be honest, I don't know a ton about the sports that I'm helping out with, I do know about the mindset of an athlete when competing so hopefully that's where I can lend a hand," said Lulay.
Among the local competitors are:
ù Bill Gauld, snowshoeing
"I am a weekend warrior, that's what I call myself," said Bill Gauld. The 47-year-old runner started snowshoeing recently and pounded his way to four gold medals in the 2011 Special Olympics B.C. championships winning in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m distances. The 2012 Winter Games will be his fourth national competition.
ù Alex Pang, figure skating
The youngest member of Team B.C., Alex Pang turns 14 one day before the Winter Games begin. Pang danced to the James Bond theme song and won gold in his freeskate in the 2011 championships. He has mild autism and was non-verbal for much of his young life. His father said behaviour therapy and sport has contributed to his latest achievements. "I try to work hard," said the Churchill student.
ù Cecilia Rodriguez, cross-country skiing
Cecilia Rodriguez struck gold in last winter's national championships to claim the 500-metre and 2.5-kilometre races while adding a sixth-place finish in her 1-km race. The results helped the 29-year old qualify for Team BC and she will compete in her first-ever Special Olympics Canada Games in St. Albert. The graduate of Notre Dame on Vancouver's East Side who rides her bicycle every day has been involved with Special Olympics since the late '80s. "There's going to be a lot of athletes coming from across the country and I want to make my hometown proud of me," she said.
Twitter: @MHStewart
