SPRINGFIELD — Seth Dye got involved with the Special Olympics before he was even eligible to compete.
The organization provides a program for athletes younger the eight years old to learn the basics of any particular sport until they come of age. Nobody had to twist Dye’s arm for him to give it a shot.
"I just love to play with my friends,” he said.
Now a 20-year-old graduate of Carthage High School, Dye is a veteran of the games. This weekend, he'll be one of 1,100 athletes and coaches who’ll compete in the State Summer Games on the campus of Missouri State.
Starting Friday, the competition will include soccer, volleyball, aquatics and powerlifting, but he’ll compete primarily in track and field events. One look at his frame portrays the body of a runner. He said he’s been stuck at 130 pounds for six years.
“No matter how much I eat I can’t gain any weight.”
Chalk that up to a lot of training, which has yielded him a wall full of medals, many of them gold. He added another in March at the indoor games by Fort Leonard Wood, where he competed in bowling and his favorite sport, basketball.
But he’s a mean jumper as well, and he’s put in the work to be ready for his next challenge.
“There’s a lot more running to do. Instead of going half court to half court, you have to work your legs out a lot more.”
Robin Anderson, Developmental Director for the Special Olympics Missouri Southwest Area, gushed about Dye’s personality and how far it has come.
“A few years ago, he wasn’t quite as confident. Just in the last two or three years, he’s really come out of his shell,” she said. "I think part of that is being around Special Olympics so long and us trying to build his confidence. Everything we do is about (the athletes).”
Dye was born with Autism, but that hasn’t affected his confidence in any way. He’s sure about his ability and confident in his training. His mom has helped him stay focused, taking part in 5k marathons with him. He’s also improving his interview and public speaking ability through the organization’s Athlete Leadership Program, where Anderson serves as his mentor.
“You didn’t have to ask me twice to do it. He’s very enjoyable to be with and understands when you don’t want to talk much, but he will talk when you want to talk. He’s just my friend.”
For Dye, there don’t seem to be any nerves this week. The anticipation of seeing other familiar faces outshines that.
“I like hanging out with my friends that I haven’t seen for two to three months,” he said. "When I was at school I saw them more, but since I graduated, not as much. I feel good when we do well and I wait for next year to come.”
