Sarah’s eventful year

Hi it’s Sarah Dalton from New Zealand here.

From August this year my life has gotten busy. I started training for the Special Olympics National Games to be held in Hamilton from 8-12th December. I increased my training to twice a week since the start of October with my Riding coach and I practice the dressage test by walking a course that I have made on our driveway at home. I also do gym workouts twice a week. At the games I competed at the Equestrian Events in Dressage, Equitation (Horse Riding Skills) and Obstacle Course.

I got a medal in all 3 events! Gold in Equitation, Silver in Obstacle Course, Bronze in Dressage. In dressage the difference between the scores of 1st, 2nd and 3rd was less than 1%! I am exhausted and very proud of myself.

[Sarah is interviewed on Breakfast TVNZ here]

As some of you would know back in 2020 I had a part on the USA TV Show Power Rangers - Dino Fury playing the role as a Special Olympics athlete called Lily who is cousins with 2 of the Power Rangers.

They asked me to come back this year for their 30th season called Cosmic Fury. I can’t tell you much but I’m back playing Lily in one episode and the storyline for my character is very different to storyline in the Dino Fury episode. Let’s say with filming Power Rangers this time they really put me and CHARGE to the test as it was a bit challenging for me but i did what us with CHARGE Syndrome people do best and CHARGED on.

Back on the 2nd of August I had the privilege of speaking at the launch of the New Zealand Special Olympics Foundation which was held at Parliament Buildings in Wellington. I was asked to talk about how important being involved in sport is to Special Olympics Athletes and the benefits of it like getting to be a part of a team, confidence, social skills and playing sport is really good for your Physical and your Mental Health.

It was such a great night. It was hosted by Greg O’Connor who is the MP for Ohariu. His son Michael has CHARGE Syndrome. He said that talking to me and listening to my speech was like hearing his son speak , as Michael is non verbal. So I was very humbled by his words.