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r 8 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, August 19,1992 Hampton Athlete is Ready for the Run of His Life R ob Snoek peers through the windshield of his truck at the downpour that has washed out any chance of getting in an outdoor training session session on this particular day. Looking skyward, he can sense that the misty rain still falling on the track at Oshawa's Civic Fields will force him to move indoors. "I don't think it's going to let up," he predicts. That's a phrase tire 23-year-old would only use to describe the weather. Because, despite the odds, letting up is something that he has never done. No matter how high the odds were stacked against him, he persevered. persevered. Now, the Hampton resident is about to enter the biggest track and field event of his life. You cannot help but appreciate and admire what he has achieved in the past four years to reach this level of competition. Qualifying to compete compete against the world's best athletes who happen to be disabled is a major major accomplishment. And that is what he wants people to admire him for. He doesn't want to be made a spectacle of, or hear somebody tell him how courageous he is. He's heard it all before. The fact that he had his left leg amputated below the knee on his first birthday is something he accepted, accepted, and dealt with the best way he knew how. Now, he wants to be thought of and accepted as an athlete -- just a regular person who happens to be one of Canada's best disabled ath- "The goal is to run as fast as I can possibly possibly run, and jump as far as I can possibly jump. I can't guarantee that I'm going to win any medals. But I can guarantee that I'm going to do everything I can to win a medal." On Thursday,. September 3, Rob Snoek will walk into a stadium in Barcelona, Spain, with Canada's best disabled athletes as they partake partake in the opening .ceremonies of the 1992 Paralympics. Indeed, it has been a long time coming. And, as next Friday's departure departure date from Pearson International International Airport in Toronto draws nearer, the realization that he will be competing against the top disabled athletes in the world is beginning to sink in. As countless hours of. training and preparation are drawing to a close, his entire focus is on the Paralympics. Paralympics. "The goal is to run as fast as I can possibly run, and jump as far as I can possibly jump," he said. "I can't guarantee that I'm going to win any medals, but I can guarantee that I'm going to do everything I can to win a medal. "My goal is to do my best, to achieve more than I've ever done before." Even if he should fail to achieve his ultimate goal of winning a medal of any color, he has already met one of his main objectives. Just reaching the epitome of athletics in his field leles in the 100m, 200m and long jump. "Too often stories about us (disabled (disabled athletes) appear in the lifestyles lifestyles section of a newspaper or magazine and not on the sports pages pages where we belong." His athletic endeavours leading up to the Paralympics in Barcelona in September, have landed Snoek on the sports pages, among other places. places. He has reached a celebrity status, you might say. Appearing on Cityline Cityline with Marilyn Dennis of CHUM FM morning show fame, and golfing golfing in a foursome with Gary Lee- man (Calgary Flames), Jim Ralph (Global) and Bruce Dowbiggen (CBC) during a Robbie Alomar celebrity celebrity tournament in aid of the Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre are just a couple of examples. examples. It's a long way from the days when his mother tried to convince him to become involved with disabled disabled sports. "My mom used to ask me why I didn't get involved in disabled sports," he remembers. "I'd tell her that I wasn't disabled and could play with able-bodied people and compete with them." He competed in every able- bodied sport he could while advancing advancing through public and high school. It wasn't until 1988, when he saw a picture of a high jumper at the disabled Olympics, that he began to wonder how he would do on a level playing field. He attended his first disabled regional regional track meet in May of 1989 and placed first in the high jump, long jump and 100m. It was just the beginning. "I was motivated by seeing how the others at the meet excelled, and I wanted to see how good I could be," he recalled. In July of '89, he captained the Canadian men's volleyball team that placed sixth at the World Disabled Championships in Las Vegas. He progressed through various meets until August of 1989 when he represented Ontario at the Canadian Games. His results garnered him the Best Male Rookie award from the Canadian Amputee Sports Association. Association. He continued to pursue his athletic athletic career through 1990 and '91, competing at various meets in St. Etienne, France and Assen, Holland. All of it -- the training, commitment commitment and competitions -- has led up to the Paralympics in Barcelona. "I have to be as good as I can possibly be in order to achieve at that level," he says of his Paralympic Paralympic dream come true. During the Olympic broadcasts from Barcelona this month, he spent some time studying the track and stadium where he will also compete. He visualized himself preparing for his events. He saw himself entering the starting blocks for his sprints or flying down the runway before hit- ting the board and vaulting himself into the long jump pit. We suspect the thought of standing standing on the medal podium while a medal is placed around his neck also •' came to mind. Photos and Stories by Brad Kelly "Too often stories about us (disabled athletes) athletes) appear in the lifestyles section of a newspaper or magazine and not on the sports pages where we belong." Rob Snoek focuses on the finish line of the indoor track at the Civic Dome. Soon, it will be the finish line at the Paralympics in B arcelona, Spain that will be the focus. Athlete's Wife Part of Medical is commendable. Team Travelling to Barcelona There was a time not so long ago, that Rob Snoek wasn't able to muster muster any financial support as he worked toward gaining a spot on the Canadian team for the 1992 Paralympics Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain Oh how the times have changed. But the change didn't occur without a tremendous amount of work and commitment on his part. He spent countless hours from last September until March, working on a personal portfolio. Included in the package were pictures Of the Hampton resident, and all of the results results from his athletic career both in able-bodied and disabled sports. As a follow-up to sending out the package, there were phone calls to make, and re-make. Several meetings meetings with potential sponsors were arranged. arranged. And, despite the exhausting amount of work involved, in the end it was all worth it. Tomorrow night, lie will realize just how much his hard work has paid off. He will be the recipient of a cheque in the amount of $5,000 that will make the financial burden of competing against the best disabled athletes in the world a little easier. And, among others, lie has Oshawa's Terry Kelly to thank. Kel ly is the catalyst behind a SportsFest dinner, where the cheque will be presented. "I didn't expect him to do what he has done," said Snoek of the generosity of the man who has been dubbed 'Superfan' by the media. "He has so many connections and ties, and everybody he knows seems willing to help," he continued. continued. "He's surrounded himself with Hours of preparation have almost almost come to a conclusion. Barcelona Timetable Friday, August 28 -- Depart fromToronto Thursday, September 3 -- Opening Ceremonies riday, September 4 -- 100m semi-finals and finals Saturday, September 5 -- 200m semi-finals Sunday, September 6 -- 200m finals ' ed., September 9 -- long jump and 4 x 100m relay Friday, September 11 -- Closing Ceremonies good people wno nave an interest m helping." The evening will begin at the Civic Fields in Oshawa at 6:30 p.m., where both Snoek and Joe Zuppan- ic, a wheelchair athlete from Oshawa who is also going to Barcelona, Barcelona, will give a free demonstration of their abilities. Following that, a buffet dinner will be served at the Oshawa Italian Recreation Club where a cheque will be presented to both athletes. Tickets to attend the dinner are $25. "I have never met two finer young men," said Kelly of Snoek and Zuppanic. "They are quite a complement to each other and will make great representatives of this country. "It didn't take much arm twisting twisting for me to get involved." Past SportsFest fund-raisers have benefited the Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Oshawa General Hospital. The money that is being raised will help both Snoek and Zuppanic to remain focused on their events in Barcelona, and make the financial burden of attending the Paralympics a little lighter. And, who knows what kind of financial financial support may be awaiting Snoek should he return with a medal draped around his neck? Endorsement deals with companies companies aren't done at a high level for disabled athletes. It's a market that could open up for him. "I sec it as a possibility," said Snoek of future endorsement deals being signed with a variety of companies, companies, I-Ic has already acquired a variety of skills in how to market himself leading up the games, It will certainly certainly be much easier to sell himself when he appears at the door of a potential potential client, with a medal from the Paralympics. Although many people will be left at home to cheer on Rob Snoek in his Paralympic endeavour, his biggest fan will be accompanying him. Pam Snoek, Rob's wife of two years in October, will also be leaving leaving for Barcelona, Spain, with the Canadian team on Friday, August 28. Not only will she be going to lend support to Rob, but her main function will be as one of the nurses for the Canadians. She will be a part of a medical staff that will hold clinic hours in die morning, prior to the start of the events, and in die evening at the conclusion of the day's competitions. competitions. "Basically, it's providing a lot of TLC (Tender Loving Care)," said Pam. It was suggested 18 months ago by die President of the Canadian Amputee Association dial Pam consider consider applying to be on die medical team for the Canadian athletes. At die lime, she doubted her chances of getting hired, arid questioned whelh- Rob and wife Pam contemplate what lies ahead for them in Barcelona. Barcelona. Rob will be competing for Canada while Pam is one of the team's nurses. er or not to even apply. As it turns out, she's very glad she did. But, the person who might be the most satisfied with the way things have turned out is Rob. "The closer you can get to a normal normal situation, die better you are," said Rob of having his wife accompany accompany him on the trip. "It will be great to have her there." Also going to provide some much-needed family support is one of Rob's sisters, Ellen. To take advantage of being in Barcelona together, rather than returning returning widi the Canadian team when they depart on September 15, Rob and Pam plan on staying behind behind for a week to enjoy a holiday. It will serve as some time off for Rob. Something he hasn't had for a long time. But, most importantly, it will give both of them an opportunity opportunity to spend some time together. With Rob's dedication to training and attending various meets around the world the past three years, spending time alone togctiicr away from the back is somcdiing they haven't had many chances to do. But, before they can sit back, relax, relax, and enjoy the scenery that Barcelona Barcelona has to offer, there is the task at hand of trying to return home with a medal. Hopefully, the presence of Pam and Ellen in the stands will calm the nervousness that will undoubtedly set in as the competition draws nearer, nearer, "He doesn't want to sec anybody, anybody, but he is very focused. It's a healthy kind of nervousness," said Pam of Rob's mood prior to a race. "The closer I gel to the event, the less nervous I am because then I realize that there is nothing else that can be done," added Rob. Staying behind in Barcelona will provide a much-needed break from the rigors of training. It will also give Rob and Pam an opportunity to discuss what the future holds in terms of competing,