McGee By Lisa Zola-DeLibero “I have been competing in the
for 20 years, and now here I am for the first time, competing in the triathlon — the toughest sport there is,” says Katie McGee with a look of enthusiasm that could motivate couch potatoes everywhere. McGee will turn 30 on Dec. 31. She has competed in a number of sports over the years, including bowling, downhill skiing, swimming, cycling, and rowing. Her favorite has been cycling. “I’m really good at bike riding,” McGee said. “I just got a new bike. When I went to the store, the salesperson asked me what kind of bike I wanted. I said pink. I love my new pink bike!” Training throughout the summer in Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island with her mom, Joan, McGee bicycles for up to 10 miles at a time, for a total of 20 miles per weekend to get in shape for the Special Olympics National Competition. “I love to ride my bike with my mom, and I also like to swim in the ocean,” said McGee. “I go to Steinert High School on Wednesday nights from October to May, too, to train.” The triathlon is an endurance race, consisting of a 3-mile run, 7-mile bike ride, and a swim across a lake. This year’s Special Olympics triathlon will be held at Mercer County Community College. The event includes some of the most well trained athletes, like McGee, who are in excellent athletic shape and condition. “The athletes really enjoy playing their sports,” said Joan McGee, a graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts. Joan was a crew, basketball, and tennis player while in school. Other special events for the athletes are held at the RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center in Hamilton, where an indoor triathlon takes place, run by Katherine Schwartz, helping to keep the competitors in shape. “It’s fun to do all of these sports,” McGee said. “I also like to go to Dorney Park, Caribbean Cruises, pizza parties, and picnics with Team New Jersey,” activities that keep the team bonded. In addition to the “fun things” that are planned for the athletes, McGee knows that life is not just fun and games. She works full days Monday through Thursday in the summer, in a job she has been doing since 2006. She works at CEA Employment, a place that hires disabled people and teach them helpful job training skills. “It is a really nice place to work, and I do different things there every week. And they make really good food there. My favorite foods are the wraps and the fish tacos,” she said. In her spare time, the avid Philadelphia Eagles football fan loves to listen to the music of Lady Gaga, especially in her mom’s car. McGee also likes to hang out with her friends or her family, including dad Dave and brother Jim, a graduate of Carnegie Melon University with a degree in astrophysics. A resident of East Amwell Township for years, McGee has met friends through swim teams the ARC, a program for people with intellectual abilities, and through the schools she has attended, the private New Grange Elementary to Hunterdon Central High School. “I really like hanging out with my friends and I really like going to the beach, “ said McGee. “I also like going on trips to Alexandria Virginia because I love the Cherry Blossoms.” For Katie McGee and all of the Special Olympians, the week of June 14th to the 21st is something they have been looking forward to all year. “I am so excited! I can’t wait for the opening ceremonies and the parade with all of the athletes.” Now that is special.
Special Olympian David Shaffer, a resident of Pennington, is also expected to compete in this year’s national competition. The Hopewell Express was unable to schedule an interview.
McGee,
