Texana – Shakaela Sudderth had the opportunity of a lifetime this summer.
The local teenager was part of the 75 member North Carolina delegation that went to the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Fla. She took gold in the shot put and won the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash.
“I’m glad to be in Special Olympics,” Sudderth said. “I’m happy about it.”
While Sudderth has never been diagnosed with a disability, her grandmother, Janet Sudderth, was told she’s developmentally delayed. Shakaela participated in the field days they would have every year at school, and started participating in the Special Olympics six years ago.
While she loved it right away, Janet said she didn’t get more interested until she competed at the N.C. State Games in 2018. The following year, she won gold at the state games in the 100-meter dash, which made her eligible to participate in the USA games.
Qualified athletes were selected by random draw to join the North Carolina delegation. Shakaela was notified in January that she was a part of the team.
“It’s given her a lot of confidence,” Janet said. “And just encouraged her a lot to do things and not to be afraid.”
After being selected, she attended monthly zooms where she learned about proper eating and exercise habits, and met other members of team North Carolina. She took part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run when the torch for this year’s games came through North Carolina.
“It was so cool,” Shakaela said. “(It was) my first time doing it.”
The Special Olympics required athletes to raise money to help allay some of the costs of sending a team to the games, with this year’s goal being $2,022 since it was the 2022 games. Shakaela met the goal, getting help from friends and family, former teachers going back as far as kindergarten and parishioners from Mount Zion Baptist Church. Even one of Janet’s dialysis nurses donated $100.
Shakaela flew to Orlando along with team North Carolina on a private jet, which was her first time on a plane. Her grandmother said she was nervous, but then asked her to compare it to zip-lining for two years ago. Janet said Shakaela can be nervous, but she’s always willing to try.
“I said, ‘Well you never had zip-lined until you went to camp two years ago,’ ” Janet said. “Just think of it as zip-line, except you always stay in the air the whole time.”
The two talked at least every day, sometimes multiple times a day. Sometimes it would be about the competition, and other times it would be about something fun she did that day. They had a silent dance party for the athletes, which Shakaela loved. She got to eat at Jersey Mike’s, which is somewhere she always wanted to go after seeing it on television.
But the best part was visiting Disney World, as the event took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Shakaela visited both Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom, where her favorite ride was Splash Mountain. She also got to see Mickey Mouse, which was personal for her since she had an aunt who passed away in 2018 and loved the character.
When she came back, Janet told Shakaela she was a celebrity, since the event was broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. That was an added bonus, as Janet didn’t care whether Shakaela placed first or last. Before leaving she told that to Shakaela, and added that she’s her hero.
That almost made Shakaela cry, as it was the first time her grandmother told her that. She sees what Shakaela goes through every day, and what leads up to the success she had this summer.
“I see her struggles,” Janet said. “And then I see her excel.”