On the run from Special Olympian to best man
World Winter Games gold medalist reflects on Winter Games, athletic achievements
After trekking more than three miles of snowy Austrian mountainside in his skis, Joe Kaczynski reached the most memorable moment of his athletic career. In March he won gold at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
Prior to the competition, the 32-year-old cross-country skier from Midland said he dedicated his performance to his older brother, John. His sibling's 10-year battle with lung cancer was the motivation behind his milestone in Austria.
"I just based everything on my brother and what he was going through," Joe said during an interview with ESPN. "He was going through chemotherapy and surgeries, so I remembered that when I felt the physical pain during my training."
Kaczynski was always thought of as a quiet kid who mimicked every move his older brother made. His parents, Mary and Jerry, noticed their youngest son had more trouble pronouncing words and expressing emotion than other kids at the age of three.
While living with a learning disability and autism traits, Kaczynski excelled in every Special Olympics sport he participated in, including gymnastics, basketball, softball, cross country skiing and his personal favorite, track and field.
When he joined his high school cross country team his junior year, his father recalled that Kaczynski's coach didn't take him seriously. During one of his meets, Jerry noticed his son's breathing wasn't as frantic as his teammate's, who was running by his side.
"His coach always told him to stay with (his teammate) Ronnie," Jerry said. "They had about a mile to go and Joe wasn't even breathing hard while Ronnie was having a hard time. He was in about 15th place and I yelled to him, 'Joe, you need to take off' during that last mile, and he ended up finishing third. After that, the coach realized that Joe could really run and had potential to be the best on the team."
During his senior year Kaczynski became the top runner on his track and cross country teams. Today Kaczynski continues to set a pace few others can follow - he runs up to 50 miles every week.
"Running is a mental thing for me," he said. "That's what makes it fun. If you love doing something, and you want to be the best at it, that's what you have to do. For me, I've always loved to run."
With the Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games coming up June 1-3, Kaczynski has been preparing for the 1,500-meter run and shot put events taking place on Friday, June 2 at Bennett Track at Central Michigan University. He usually participates in the pentathlon, but a prior commitment will cut Kaczynski's time on campus short this year.
The day after he competes in Mount Pleasant he will leave the summer games to attend his brother's bachelor party. On June 17, he will serve as the best man in John's wedding.
"(John) always supports me," Joe said. "I always followed him around when I was little. I want to support him in his life, too. He has always been my hero."
While he looks up to his brother, his mother said it's Kaczynski who is the real "superhero" in the family.
It wasn't until Kaczynski turned eight that Mary and Jerry became involved in Special Olympics as chaperones, volunteers and coaches. The experiences and friendships they've made during their 20 years with the organization has changed the way Mary views and interacts with families who have children with special needs.
"We've really grown as people through Special Olympics. (We) learned so much from the athletes," she said. "You learn to be patient, understanding and dependable to them and their needs. It just makes you feel good that you can help these (athletes) live our their dreams."
