Special Olympics USA athlete Alexandrea Rutledge trained hard in cross-country skiing to prepare for the World Winter Games in Turin, and after finishing her final race on Saturday, she’s headed home with even bigger goals for the future.
Although she didn’t achieve her goal of winning gold, Rutledge kept her head up high after facing disappointment in her races. She finished fourth in the 50-meter classical technique race after getting tripped up by a falling athlete next to her.
After the race, while shivering in the snow, Rutledge said she’s proud of her performance but knows she can improve in the future. In the meantime, she enjoyed soaking up the excitement of her first World Games experience, no matter the results.
“It was awesome,” Rutledge said. “I’m excited to represent the USA.”
Later in the week, Rutledge competed in the 100-meter classical technique, where she placed sixth.
Lester Loner, Rutledge’s cross-country skiing coach and a six-time veteran of winter games, explained her training strategy for the short distance races that she qualified for in Turin.
“She had a good race I thought. We have to go hard, from start to finish,” Loner said. “We did hill climbs, sprints, endurance work, weight training, the whole gamut. So she’s going home and hopefully she can be an inspiration to other athletes so more can come and compete in the next winter games.”
Rutledge said she hopes to be able to compete in the longer distance races next time, where her endurance training will be her biggest strength.
In the meantime, Rutledge has no plans to slow down. She also competes in athletics, basketball, bowling, and volleyball back home in Flushing, Michigan.
“Sports gives me a hard training, it helps me do things and make new friends,” said Rutledge.
Megan Gorski, another SO USA skiing coach, said Rutledge’s experience in Turin has made her more outgoing and eager to compete for her family watching back home.
“You’ve become more outspoken, you’ve given hugs to people,” Gorski told Rutledge who nodded in agreement. “For me, it has changed my whole life: how I’ve raised my children, how I see my community. There’s nothing better than this experience. Nothing.”
