A Valuable Lesson We All Need To Learn
This powerlifter has much more to offer than physical strength.
“You can do this Brittany. You can do it.”
That’s what Special Olympics powerlifter Brittany Tregarthen wants her friends and family to say when they watch her compete at the Special Olympics World Games. And while she says that the support might make her nervous, it also makes her incredibly excited and proud.
Brittany is an impressive powerlifter who can squat 150 pounds, and she has competed in many different Special Olympics sports. But she has more than just athletic feats to boast. She is a 2007 graduate of the Vision Program at Delta High School in Colorado. She is a powerful public speaker. She helped co-write a book alongside her mother, and furthermore, she is an incredible lyricist.
There is no doubt that Brittany’s talents and work ethic are exceptional. When I spoke to her mom, Suzanne, she told me that one of Brittany’s biggest struggles is choosing one goal to work on at a time. Even in my brief conversation with Brittany, I instantly detected her desire to do remarkable things, specifically in powerlifting and music.
Brittany teaches us how we should see those with intellectual disabilities. Why would we ever underestimate someone with intellectual disabilities when people like Brittany constantly prove their determination for greatness?
Stories like Brittany’s need to be told. The world needs to change the way they see those with intellectual disabilities. We owe it to everyone to expect greatness from all people.
When we asked Suzanne to tell us the most joyful part about raising Brittany, she sighed a bit before saying “all of it.” She went on to describe how proud she is of the woman that Brittany has become, but she was quick to add that she feels that way about all of her children. As a loving mother, it does not make a difference if a child has an intellectual disability or does not. Suzanne knows that all children are equal. It’s a lesson we all should believe in: people are capable whether or not they have intellectual disabilities. People with intellectual disabilities deserve this, and it is our responsibility to take on a mindset that gives it to them.
All Brittany Tregarthen wants to hear her family and friends say during the World Games is “You can do it.” And then, judging by her record of success, she will.
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