The True Meaning of Teamwork Is On Display At The Special Olympics World Games
Abel Mehari and his fellow teammates succeed on and off the court because of the support system they’ve created.
Camaraderie.
Abel Mehari and his teammates on USA Minnesota rely on camaraderie to succeed on the basketball court. To successfully execute a play, score a basket, and win a game, the trust and kinship between teammates are vital.
But Mehari knows that the camaraderie goes much farther than just the bond he shares with his teammates and coaches. It exists between all the athletes participating in the Special Olympics World Games. “It’s been a pretty humbling experience playing with other athletes around the world who have been dealing with the same personal problems I went through. Being in that Opening Ceremony and watching [everyone] giving us their support, really was a heart-warming experience not just for the United States, but also for all the other countries around the world.”
The camaraderie Mehari experiences through competing in the Special Olympics, however, have not been a consistent experience throughout his life. Mehari’s parents immigrated to the United States from Eritrea in 1989, and he was born in America in 1992. Between the ages of two and four, his parents found out he had an intellectual disability. In school, kids would bully him during class and recess.
It wasn’t until he started playing basketball and joined his Special Olympics team that Mehari felt the spirit of inclusion and became motivated to be the best person he could be. Team USA Minnesota Coach James Parrish says he has watched Mehari develop into a strong competitor and man. “Coaching Abel has been awesome. It’s been great to watch him grow from just four years ago- his abilities, his maturity level and growing up, and having him and my son [Unified Partner Averazse Parrish] be able to play on the same team has been fantastic.”
Mehari’s journey with Special Olympics has brought him many opportunities. This year, Mehari participated in the NBA All-Star weekend NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Game in New York City, where he played with current and past NBA and WNBA greats, including Steph Curry, Tamika Catchings, and “Dream Team” Olympian Chris Mullin.
Mehari said he learned a great deal about the game of basketball from his star-studded teammates, and even received memorable advice from Mullin. “He told me to be confident within yourself and don’t be afraid to fail, and that’s what I’ve learned. I still will get on him for calling me borderline cocky in the ESPN interview, but he is a great guy, a Hall of Famer and somebody to look up to.”
While Mehari and his USA Minnesota teammates have their sights set on the gold, he said the most important part of participating in the Special Olympics World Games is to relax and have fun. “When we’re having fun everyone is cheering for each other and we’re doing all the little things. If we’re not having fun, then we don’t do well. The most important thing is to get out there and have fun.”
To cheer for Mehari and the other 6,5000 athletes at the this week’s World Games in Los Angeles, visit LA2015.org/schedule.
