OUTLOOK - A Saskatchewan athlete who got his start at Outlook Elementary School was recently honored with a national Lifetime Achievement Award at a Special Olympics Gala in Toronto, and his Outlook mentor was privileged to be his special guest.
Malcolm Goebel is the third of four children of August and Gladys Goebel.
Bonnie Read first met Malcolm when she was an Educational Assistant at the elementary school. “I worked in the Special Ed classroom with Norm Bull when he was a teacher here,” she shared.
Bull got students involved in sports and thought Malcolm would be good at speed skating. “I was working with Malcolm at the time,” Bonnie said, “so I took him to the rink just about every day.”
After attending various meets around the province Malcolm demonstrated talent that took him beyond these borders to national and international competitions including the 1985 Special Olympics in Utah where he took a gold and silver in speed skating.
His athletic resume is impressive and includes more medals such as four he won in speed skating at the provincial Olympic Games in 1986, and a silver and bronze in bowling from the 2018 summer Special Olympics in PEI. He also received an overall athlete award at the 2014 event in Vancouver.
Malcolm’s family moved to Swift Current when he was in grade nine but his relationship with Bonnie Read continued. “I kept in touch with Malcolm all these years. Since he’s been out of high school I haven’t coached him,” she remarked, “just stayed in touch and mentored him.” She describes Malcolm as a good worker, eager, conscientious and dedicated.
Malcolm graduated high school, got married and he and his wife had a daughter they named Bonnie, after his mentor, and to whom Bonnie Read is godmother. Malcolm’s wife passed away when their daughter was just 10 years old so Read helped him re-adjust and find support raising her. Through it all Malcolm continued pursuing sports which now included baseball, basketball, floor hockey, curling, speed skating, bowling and bocce ball. His accomplishments led to a provincial award earlier this year as he received the Special Olympics Saskatchewan Athlete Lifetime Dedication Award. There was more to come.
He was then nominated for a national award and received the Dr. Frank Hayden Athlete Lifetime Achievement Award, given to an athlete who has best exemplified the spirit, philosophy and goals of the Special Olympics movement over the course of their career. He was invited to a gala in Toronto and was told he could bring one guest. Malcolm’s coach called Bonnie saying there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation for the athlete as he immediately announced, “I’m taking Bonnie Read.”
The star-studded gala shone a spotlight on athletes and coaches in an event Bonnie described as “perfection in action.” Each element was top notch and Malcolm took it all in. “He hadn’t experienced anything quite like it,” Bonnie explained. “He’s not a jump up and down and get excited type person. He’s very quiet, but you could sense that inside he was really excited.”
The evening featured a list of luminaries including Olympians Adam van Koeverden, Cheryl Bernard, Curt Harnett, Damian Warner, Kyle Shewfelt, Penny Oleksiak, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Malcolm was escorted onstage by Sportsnet host David Amber, someone who impressed Malcolm a great deal. He also got to meet the namesake of his award Dr. Frank Hayden, as well as the CEO of Special Olympics, Sharon Bollenbach.
In the introduction of Malcolm as the final award winner of the evening, it was said his spirit as much as his medals over the past 39 years set him apart, describing him as a cheerful, coachable athlete who wants to perform at his highest level.
In accepting the award Malcolm remarked, “It is an honor for me to receive this award. My love for sports has been part of my whole life. I have met so many special people through my sports and have travelled to many places. Thank you to the coaches and sponsors who helped make that possible.”
Special Olympics is often described as a lifeline for athletes. Bonnie explained, “It is so important because it connects people with disabilities with a social network they wouldn’t otherwise have. It gives them confidence that they can perform and achieve something great because they are as accomplished as other Olympians in their sport. It also provides a spirit of inclusion which is so important so they get the support of their peers and so many others.”
It is easy to sense the pride Bonnie has in seeing Malcolm receive this recognition. “He really deserves it” she remarked, noting that the 53-year-old is committed to continuing with his sports. “He’s very proud that he is still very athletic and healthy.”
Attending the gala as Malcolm’s guest meant a lot to Bonnie as she has watched him develop his talent as a young boy to being honored on the national stage. “I was really proud of him because he deserves the recognition for all the years he’s been a faithful athlete, dedicated to his sports. It’s pretty amazing to think a small town Saskatchewan boy was able to achieve enough to be recognized in a very big way.”
