By Nabeelah Khan, Special Olympics Aotearoa
Silafai and Lutu give a confident thumbs up ahead of their relay event. Photo: Supplied / Nabeelah Khan
Māngere Special Olympics athletes Jared Lutu and Colleen Silafai proudly represented South Auckland and their Pacific communities at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Christchurch last weekend.
Athlete leader Lutu, who is of Samoan and Cook Islands descent, has been involved with Special Olympics for more than a decade after being introduced to the Māngere club while still at school.
Today, he plays a key leadership role within the club, training alongside coach Maria Lee and supporting a group of 15-20 athletes.
Special Olympics is a global sports organisation that provides training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Lutu, who is autistic, was among more than 1200 athletes from 42 clubs who competed across 10 sports at the National Summer Games in Christchurch.
Māngere athletics leader Jared Lutu leads a training session at a local park ahead of the Special Olympics National Summer Games. Photo: Supplied / Nabeelah Khan
In the lead up to the Games the South Auckland team trained every Thursday and Friday afternoon, with Lutu and Lee running the sessions together at a nearby park close to Sir Keith Park School, a special education school in Auckland.
"I like all sports, but I must admit I am most passionate about Athletics," Lutu said.
"It keeps me fit and helps with my confidence and I like to do long jump, shotput and relays."
More than just a sport
For the 26-year-old athlete, Special Olympics has provided far more than sporting opportunities.
"Special Olympics promotes my love of sports from training to competing at a National Level," he said.
"This organisation makes me feel I belong, and it sees my potential. I enjoy being part of the Special Olympics family. It brings me joy to experience its many different cultures and ethnic diversity and also to see the different level of skills and potentials."
Lutu first became involved through his coach.
"I got involved back in school. My coach Maria Lee asked if I was interested in joining in SO club Māngere and I was keen to meet new friends and try new sports."
As an athlete leader, he says the role has been one of growth and responsibility.
"My journey is full of learning, making improvements and encouraging our athletes to reach their full potential."
That leadership extends onto the training field. Without access to a dedicated athletics track, Lutu structures sessions visually, using cones and equipment to mark out lanes and events on a park ground to and help athletes visualise a proper track.
At the Games, Lutu has seen clear progress in his own performance, recording a long jump of 3.96 metres.
Looking ahead, Lutu hopes to one day represent New Zealand on the world stage, with the next World Special Olympics Games set to be held in 2027 in Santiago, Chile.
"I'm hoping so. I'm waiting and praying for the SONZ board of trustees to nominate me to represent the country in athletics."
Representing Māngere, he said, comes with pride and humility.
"For our club it's about being humble, have fun, making new friends and enjoying the experience."
Lutu is also passionate about seeing more Pasifika athletes involved in Special Olympics.
"I would like to see more Pasifika talent at the games competing and participating with us."
His family background spans across the Pacific.
"My dad is Samoan, my nana is from Savai'i, and grandad is from Upolu. My mum is Cook Islands, my grandpas from Rarotonga and my grandma from Mangaia."
His family, he said, are proud of the path he's chosen.
"My family is very proud of me for what I do at the Special Olympics and not that I'm at home playing my PlayStation all the time, because I used to do that when I was little. But now, my mind has changed and I just want to be out there and be active."
Silafai excited
Competing alongside Lutu was Colleen Silafai, a 22-year-old athlete of Samoan heritage.
She was at her first National Summer Games. Although Silafai joined the Māngere Special Olympics club three years ago, at the age of 18, this was her first time competing in the National Summer Games.
Special Olympics Māngere athlete Colleen Silafai at her first National Summer Games in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied / Nabeelah Khan
Special Olympics Māngere athlete Colleen Silafai at her first National Summer Games in Christchurch. Photo: Nabeelah Khan
Silafai describes her time favourite part about training is the chance to connect with others. She enjoyed "playing and exercising with friends," as well as "being outdoors in the sunshine for practice".
In athletics, Silafai particularly enjoys relay events.
"Relays is my favourite. I also like running, javelin and shotput," she said, adding that she enjoys how relays are a collaborative team sport.
Representing South Auckland at the Games has been a highlight for Silafai adding "I'm very proud to represent Māngere".
Silafai was born in Samoa and moved to New Zealand with her family when she was five years old. Her family is from villages in Savai'i and Upolu, and she continues to visit Samoa regularly.
She says she misses "how hot the Samoa weather is."
Silafai and Lutu give a confident thumbs up ahead of their relay event. Photo: Nabeelah Khan
Like Lutu, she hopes to see more Pasifika representation at future Games. "It's nice to see people who look like me and are from the same place as me."
Coach 'privileged to be part of the team'
Special Olympics Māngere Club head coach Maria Lee said she feels honoured to work alongside the athletes.
"I am privileged to work with them and be part of the team," Lee said.
"While the club may be small, its presence is anything but quiet, guided by the motto: "very proud and very loud."
Throughout the Games, Māngere athletes have become known for their strong team spirit, often singing and dancing together - even turning bus rides into karaoke sessions.
With a predominantly Polynesian membership, the club is family-oriented and grounded in cultural values. Lee says the first thing the Māngere team asked in Christchurch was, "Where's the beach? Where's the water to swim in?"
As the National Summer Games came to a close, the Māngere athletes returned home motivated and already looking ahead to what comes next.
For Lutu and Silafai, the experience has strengthened their confidence, their connection to sport and their pride in representing Māngere and the Pacific on a national stage.
