Tribute to Hayden Meattey

Floor Speech

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Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I have been a strong supporter of Special Olympics for many years. It is a truly extraordinary global movement, bringing together more than 4.5 million athletes in 170 countries. This summer, folks in my State have come to admire one especially talented and accomplished Special Olympian, Hayden Meattey of Goffstown, NH.

Hayden was one of only two Granite Staters selected to compete this summer at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. He returned home to a hero's welcome at Goffstown High School, having won a gold medal in the 800-meter speedwalking event and a bronze in the 800-meter event.

Qualifying for the World Games was itself a remarkable achievement against talented competition. Hayden, a cross-country runner and speedwalker, trained twice a week with his team at Goffstown High School and independently the rest of the week, constantly pushing to exceed his personal best. Nancy Kelleher, coordinator of Team Uncanoonuc and Hayden's coach for 9 years, praised his work ethic as exceptional.

His fellow students at Goffstown High packed the school gymnasium for a rally to wish him luck before he left for Los Angeles. When Hayden and his teammates on Team Uncanoonuc entered the gym, the room erupted in cheers and clapping.

To say that Hayden is popular at Goffstown High is an understatement. As Principal Frank McBride put it: ``Hayden is just one of those sweet, kind human beings who puts a smile on everyone's face. He makes my day better. I think he does that with most of the people he comes into contact with.''

The Special Olympics World Games are a remarkable sporting event. The accent is not on the participants' disabilities, but on their abilities. The athletes' success is determined by their own hard work, talent, and determination.

In truth, Hayden was already a winner before he left for the games. He already had demonstrated grit and determination by joining Team Uncanoonuc, training like an Olympian, and earning the chance to compete at the highest level with Team USA against athletes from nearly 170 nations. His gold and bronze medals in Los Angeles only confirmed what his friends and family already knew, that Hayden is a young man of indomitable spirit.

Hayden was accompanied to Los Angeles by his very proud mom, dad, brother, and stepdad. I know that folks in Goffstown are also very proud of all he has achieved. So am I, and so are folks all across the Granite State. On behalf of my colleagues in the Senate, I thank Haden Meattey for representing the United States at the games with a noble spirit and a champion's heart.

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