Utah Tech Special Olympians bring home gold, silver, bronze from nationals in Florida – St. George News

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Jasmine Slama Receives Silver Medal, Orlando, Florida, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jared Bruton, St. George News

Washington City – Quiet and smiling, Anthony Rohr, 26, and Jasmine Slama, 31, sat on bar stools in the Rohr family living room as parents and grandparents shared the two athletes’ remarkable athletic achievements with St. George.

Jasmine Slama and Anthony Rohr show off their gold, silver and bronze medals, Washington City, Utah, August 18, 2022 | Photo by Truman Burgess

The two runners join the Utah Tech Trailblazers team this year to represent the state at the June 2022 Special Olympics USA in Florida.

At the event, Rohr won two gold medals, one in the 800 meters (2 minutes 36 seconds) and the other in the mini-javelin throw of 28.21 meters. He also placed fourth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 5:20.

“It took a lot of attention,” Rohr said. “I was very surprised. It was a terrible feeling – I finally went to Florida after what I trained for.

Practicing archery, Rohr demonstrated in the living room with his arms outstretched and his bow fisted. He said he threw spears at least a thousand times in three years.

Rohr’s best friend and track star Slama won the silver medal in the 400-meter run in 1:18 and the bronze medal in the 800 in 3:07. She also finished fourth in the 1,500-meter run. With a time of 6:28.

She completed the half marathon a few weeks before the National Special Olympics in June and is now training for the St. George Marathon in October. Slam competed at the 2014 USA Special Olympics and won two gold medals and a silver medal.

“I really just love running,” she said.

To qualify for the national competition, both placed first in the regional Special Olympics competition and placed first in the state competition. Their names were put into a hat, and the officials held a random drawing to see which state winner would compete in the national games in Florida.

Jasmine Slama and Anthony Rohr arrive at the Special Olympics Games in Orlando, Florida, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jared Bruton, St. George News

Jasmine Slama’s father, Tim Slama, coached the two runners independently of the Utah Tech team before the June games.

“I wanted to get them in the heat so they could get used to the Florida weather,” he said. “They ran from 10 o’clock in the morning to 1 o’clock or 2 o’clock at night. Easy, very easy.”

Run 2-3 times a week, working up to 2-10 miles per day. They ran down the St. George River Road from Washington.

“Running is like therapy for both of them. These two run and feed on each other.” said Tim Slama. “They are like machines. It’s beautiful to look at.”

As well as facilitating running techniques and delivering water on the running routes, Team Slama helped the two athletes with shin splints, tendonitis and other injuries with active stretching and physical therapy.

“The biggest problem I had with this training was getting them with water,” said Tim Slama. Sometimes they ran so fast that when I got there I wondered what was taking so long, but they were already waiting for me.

Rohr’s grandmother, Jane Peterson, traveled to Florida with her own mother to encourage Rohr.

“I was hoping Anthony would finish, and I had good faith in him,” she said. “His grandfather and I were on the edge of the fence taking pictures and cheering him on. I’m proud of him and what he went through to get there.

In addition to the games, Jasmine Slama said she is most interested in the DC World tickets and DJ dance party thrown for Special Olympics athletes.

According to her, Jasmine Slama “dragged” Rohr to the dance.

Anthony Rohr Wins Gold Medal, Orlando, Florida, June 7, 2022 | Photo by Jared Bruton, St. George News

“I have to take him out more and teach him how to dance,” Jasmine Slama said.

Peterson laughed and shook her head.

“These two are like an old married couple sometimes,” she said.

Rohr had a different message to share with other Special Olympics hopefuls.

“Just go ahead,” he said. “Don’t give up. You get a little bit faster each time.

For future races, Rohr is considering a half marathon, but for now, Rohr goes to the Washington Community Center every day to play basketball.

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Copyright Saint George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Truman Burgess grew up in Washington State, Virginia, and Arizona. He graduated from BYU-Idaho with a BA in English. In the year Before starting at the St. George News in 2022, Truman was a reporter and lead copy editor for “Spiral,” a news service in Idaho. The Idaho Press Club Student of the Year column won the 2021 award. When he’s not reporting or writing, Truman spends his time Latin dancing with his fiancee and climbing trees with the kids.



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