Sunday, August 27, 2006
Benson Tan: The Artistic SportsmanBy Valarie Looi, Sportsmag, March 2006 Vol 2.3
It is impossible not to like 14-year-old Benson Tan. The adorable and extremely active boy greets you with a firm handshake and gamely swims a few laps of the butterfly, freestyle and breastroke to exhibit his talent. He gleefully yells "Freestyle!" when asked about his favourite stroke then runs back to the kids' pool to play with his friends. He looks at ease interacting with other kids in the Special Olympics swimming programme and is very at home in the water.
"Benson is a natural. Of all the swimmers, he's the most gifted," says Su Lin, one of the swimming coaches. Both she and Benson's dad, Mr K.A. Tan, attest to his quick learning ability. For example, many of the swimmers have encountered difficulties with plunging into the water, but Benson mastered it after two or three tries. Mr Tan also adds that Benson, who has been swimming for five years, picks up football and basketball skills, amongst others, by watching the sports on television.
Benson's most recent triumph was at the SO New Zealand National & Asia Pacific Invitation Games. Though he was the smallest-built among his competitors, Benson completed the 200m freestyle event in 03:11:92 minutes to win the gold medal. Despite being intellectually disabled, the student at Towner Gardens School knows the meaning and importance of competitions. "He is very serious during competitions and will even flex his muscles to get ready," says Benson's dad.
Apart from being an SO swimmer, Benson represents his school in sports like floor hockey and basketball. Ever since he started taking sports more seriously, and especially after his trip to New Zealand, the boy has learnt to become more independent, disciplined and organised. In fact, he was even made a school prefect this year. It seems Benson understands the responsibilities that come with this position and is setting a good example as a leader. Mr Tan comments that Benson "used to arrive home dirty and untidy, as if he had just come from a football match" but now displays a marked difference - he looks neat at the end of the day, with his prefect's tie intact. According to dad, Benson gets upset if anyone tries to take his tie away.
Getting involved in sports has also allowed the naturally outgoing boy to come out of his shell. While he still has some difficulty expressing himself linguistically, Benson has learnt to interact with people of all ages. "[When Benson first joined us],he wouldn't talk, wouldn't look you in the eye and was not comfortable with strangers," says Kim Lau, SO's sports manager. Now he gets along not just with his school mates, but the SO volunteers and other kids as well. He plays sports with the kids in his neighbourhood and fits right in with them. These kids also look him up often to get him to join in their games. Well, with his ability to excel at any sport, it is only natural for kids to want Benson on their team.
Just when you think Benson's destined to be a sportsman, though, you are hit with the revelation that the boy is talented in other ways. Like most kids, he is not too interested in studying, but would willingly while his time away sketching and painting. "Benson could draw since young," says his dad. "He would draw [what was on] CD covers and after the first time, he would be able to draw the same thing without reference."
Benson has taken part in drawing competitions and his art pieces have been exhibited at Very Special Arts (a charity that provides the disabled with opportunities to access the arts) events. He also attends drawing and drama classes on Saturdays and has performed in dance and drama concerts both in school and beyond, by choice. Benson actually enjoys what he does and has talent to boot.
Words he has not, but his drawings and sporting excellence are already great forms of self expression.
and that's benson for you. the buddy i had in special olympics. (:the one i'm proud of. (: