Swimmer Takes Three Special Olympics Bronze Medals

Wellesley resident Max Moore, 11, took three bronze medals in the June 19 and 20 Special Olympics Summer Games, an achievement he owes to his love of swimming.

"I'm very proud of him," said Max's mom, Lisa.

This was the third year in the Special Olympics Summer Games for Max, a Sprague School student and member of the Wellesley STARS (Striving To Advance Recreational Services) Swim Team. The group offers swim training and programs for adults and children with special needs from January to June each year. 

Max won his medals in three events: The 25-meter freestyle relay team, 25-meter freestyle individual and the 25-meter backstroke at Harvard University.

"I was fast, and quick," said Max of his performance in the events. He said it was a lot of fun that he was well prepared for. "I've been training a lot," Max said. Lisa said Max has been practicing his swimming since January with the STARS team and sometimes at Regis College's Longfellow Pool, with a little coaching from his dad, Curtis. 

The Summer Games also involved events in track and field, power lifting, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics and roller-skating. 

Max said winning the medals was a exciting, with his parents and grandparents cheering him on in the crowd while he swam. "I love to do it," Max said.

Editor's note: If you've got photos from the Special Olympics, send them to robert@patch.com, with a little info on the people in it, and we'll post it on the Wellesley Patch.