Michael Morris

By Frank Mitchell | February 25, 2018
  • Type: Athlete
  • Sport(s): Special Olympics
  • Year: 2017

Michael Morris – Special Olympian from Stratford, PEI: 19 medals won in top level competition as a Nordic Skier (many big wins), Bowling, Track, and Bocce Ball.

Perhaps we can begin with his winning record and work backwards to the beginning and the outline process that allowed Michael and his mother, Judith to be here today.

Michaels Record: From 2000-2017 (17 years and counting), he has competed at the World Championships in Japan and Boise, Idaho, winning a total of 5 medals at the world level (3 SILVER, 2 BRONZE); at the Canadian Championships (in NL, PEI, PQ) where Mike won seven medals: 5 GOLD and 2 SILVER – and again within the Maritimes (PEI, NB), winning another seven, including 4 GOLD and 3 SILVER.

According to Charity Sheehan, Executive Director at Special Olympics, PEI, Michael’s first medal came in 2004 and “in the space of four years went from local/provincial to national and world competition”; their books also record a total of 28 medals and many personal bests since 2009 alone with the additional medals coming at PEI competitions.Ms. Sheehan continues, … “in 17 years as an athlete, his is a fairy tale story, moving from regional to provincial to national and to the world stage in only a four year span” … “The rest they say is history as he would medal at the Special Olympics’ World Winter Games in Japan and again at Boise, four years later.”Michael’s mother, Judith, in her very personal account (on DVD) , suggests that is was more by accident that Michael began with skiing, but with excellent coaching he made the local PEI team where he won his first of 19 higher level competition medals.

JAPAN: Although it seemed initially stressful for Michael travelling and competing in Japan, but a prior experience in Calgary (Nationals) helped in the transition… and although he was tired and rather beat out when he returned to PEI, it was the hero-style welcome upon arriving home in Stratford that seemed to be the beginning of a process that changed everything in his life … but it didn’t change who he was, and according to mom, the “old” Michael returned as well.

Judith suggests that winning medals initially didn’t seem to mean a whole lot for her, but when she saw the change in Mike’s level of self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence, it brought tears to her eyes as she watched in amazement as Michael changed from a boy to a man in the process.The value of the Special Olympics to Michael was profound … here individuals were valued for who they were and the importance centered on their abilities, rather than disabilities … and he grew in every aspect of his life thereafter.Judith Morris suggests than anyone who has a child with special abilities and who can become involved with the Special Olympics Program that they should contact the association in their home province to see what is possible. It is our understanding after speaking with Director of Special Olympics in PEI, that the Nova Scotia chapter may have representatives here today?