Inside the miraculous life of Special Olympics athlete Noah Reedy
Spectators gather around to see what is going on. Voices rise from the crowd, asking about Special Olympics and its involvement with the X Games. After five years in the winter X Games, the Special Olympics Unified division, a division in which pros pair up with athletes with intellectual disabilities, is debuting at the summer games.
Reedy and his Unified partner, pro rider Brandon Loupos, meet at the starting line. One is experiencing a new feeling of nerves, as it is his first time on a BMX bike; the other is confident, seasoned and used to competition jitters. Loupos knows what it's like to compete in front of a crowd. He knows the surge of adrenaline that goes with it. Because of that, as the two talk at the starting line, Loupos' calm demeanor helps ease Reedy.
When the announcer says, "go!" Reedy takes off -- leaving Loupos in the rearview. The course consists of two whoops, and Reedy rolls over them easily and crosses the finish line. They high-five and hug each other: A friendship has formed.
"Noah's so fast on a bike. It's ridiculous," says Loupos, an X Games gold medalist. "The guy called his name, and Noah took off like a cannon, and I wasn't expecting it. I had to catch up to him and was at least six seconds behind him."
This was a rare moment in Reedy's life that didn't concern his health or what surgery he has scheduled next -- he has had 13 so far. It was a moment he still cherishes.
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