Hartland Gymnast Heads to Michigan Special Olympics' Summer Games

Hartland resident Becky Hammond flips, jumps and dances like any other young gymnast — a sight her mom once says might have seemed impossible.

The 21-year-old was born with Mosaic Down Syndrome as well as Mosaic Turner Syndrome.

“When she was younger, there was no way she could do that with the balance issues and muscle issues," said Becky’s mom, Shannon Hammond.

After years of practice, training and determination, however, Hammond, along with the rest of her teammates have been competing in Special Olympics competitions, and on Thursday and Friday they will represent Livingston County when they travel to Mount Pleasant for Special Olympics Michigan's state Summer Games. There, four young gymnasts will compete in four different events including the uneven bars, floor, vault and balance beam on the campus of Central Michigan University.

Under the direction of volunteer coach Lori Frechette and thanks to donated practice space at the in Brighton Township and the , each girl will perform up to four different routines they have been working on for months. It will be their chance to show the crowd and the judges just how far they have come. 

“Once you start watching them, you go, wow," said Shannon Hammond. "What we so take for granted, that we can just do, that they have to learn how to do. And they try so hard and when they get it — Yay. It’s just a fantastic program.”

The Special Olympics, which began in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, aims to give special needs children the chance to explore their boundaries and compete in a supportive environment. 

"It gives them an opportunity to excel," Frechette said. "It gives them an opportunity to be athletic. The growth is tremendous. At the beginning, some of them can’t participate in certain things and we watch them, to see them move from levels or learning new routines, it’s amazing."

When Becky Hammond was in the fourth grade, her mom learned from one of her friends, who had two daughters with special needs, that the young girls were participating as cheerleaders for the Special Olympics.

“It was like a light bulb went on,” said Shannon Hammond, whose daughter had always enjoyed watching gymnastics. “So we got her started then and it’s been very nice.”

Over the years, Becky Hammond, a 2008 Hartland High School graduate, grew from a Level One gymnast to a Level Three, which according to her mother, is just one of the satisfying results of her daughter's commitment to the program. The other is watching her daughters teammates and friends as they grow and improve as well. 

Jenny Mantyla, a Hartland High School senior who is in her third year as a volunteer coach, says it's rewarding to help the athletes achieve.

“Kylee (Nylund)," Mantyla said. "I remember the first practice that she came here, she wouldn’t even walk into the gym. She was out there with her mom, pretty much curled into a ball, did not want to come in. And how much she has opened up and succeeded, it’s been awesome."

The Livingston County team, which already competed in an exhibition meet at Michigan State University, is excited for the upcoming Summer Games, according to Frechette. Becky Hammond, who came in first in three events and second in her floor routine, along with the rest of her team has been practicing hard and all the girls are looking to make a strong showing.

"The girls work so hard and put so much of themselves into their practice," Frechette said. "It's great to watch them be rewarded for their efforts." 

Members of the team say they are looking forward to re-connecting with old friends as well as competing in their favorite events — even if a case of nerves hits them.

"The first time I did it for the competition, I got scared," said Nylund of Brighton, whose favorite event is the uneven bars. "But then I got really happy."