No quit in isle swimmer who earned Team USA spot

May 29--Swimming coach Tracey Lodge says when some young athletes whine about workouts their parents point to Ikaika Morita-Sunada.

He doesn't complain.

"People are astounded at his nonquit attitude," said Lodge, who has coached Morita-Sunada for eight years. "He doesn't quit."

That attitude, along with his lifelong affinity for aquatics, helped land the autistic 27-year-old man a spot on Team USA in the Special Olympics World Games, slated to get underway in Los Angeles in late July.

Morita-Sunada is one of three Hawaii athletes selected to represent the United States in the event that will feature 17 sports, with competitors representing 170 countries. Kauai track and field athlete Chaunci Cummings and Hawaii island powerlifter Isaiah Wong will also compete as Team USA members.

Athletes are chosen for the world games at random from a list of state-level gold medalists in Special Olympic events, which are open to children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Before the world games, Morita-Sunada, a Kaneohe native, will swim in the Special Olympics Hawaii summer games, which start with opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. Friday on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.

An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 runners and walkers -- many of them police officers -- will take part in a torch run, making their way along Waikiki area streets with the Special Olympics flame of hope. The finish line will be at the opening ceremonies at Les Murakami Stadium.

Lodge says her athlete is ready for the big competitions, and has what it takes to earn a place on the medals podium.

During an interview, she helped Morita-Sunada recite his workout. "Free kick, 200 kicks each stroke," he said, noting that fly kicks, back kicks and breaststroke kicks are also part of his routine.

When Morita-Sunada was a child, Lodge said, he was a nontalker.

"He's better at communicating now," she said.

Asked why he likes to swim, Morita-Sunada answered without hesitating: "I like the water."

The swimmer's mother, Donna Morita-Sunada, says her son has always had a fondness for aquatics.

"He's been swimming since he was a baby," she said, adding that he could keep his head above water at age 3.

By age 9, Morita-Sunada had learned proper strokes and was competing. As a teen, he swam for Kalaheo High School.

Since November, Lodge has been working one-on-one with Morita-Sunada at YMCA's pool in Kailua. They practice as many as six days a week.

Ikaika Morita-Sunada said he's tired after Lodge's strict practices, which aim to prep him for the world games, at which he'll compete in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke, 100-meter freestyle and relay races.

When Lodge is unable to make it to practice, Ikaika Morita-Sunada walks to Kaneohe District Park and swims his routine alone.

"He'll walk there by himself from where we live and he'll do his routine," Donna Morita-Sunada said.

Donna Morita-Sunada is proud of her son, who also works as a courtesy clerk at Hamakua Safeway in Kailua, bagging groceries and helping shoppers to their cars among other responsibilities. When he's not working or swimming, Morita-Sunada enjoys bowling, softball, powerlifting and other sports.

Morita-Sunada, who has been taking part in Special Olympic events for 18 years, has many of his medals in display cases, Donna Morita-Sunada said. However, his mother said he pays little attention to his achievements, instead focusing on the next competition and the camaraderie tied to Special Olympics.

She said Ikaika Morita-Sunada knows the Special Olympics athlete oath by heart. He says it before every competition.

The oath reads: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Torch run kicks off special olympics

The First Hawaiian Bank Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run, the annual kickoff for the Special Olympics Hawaii summer games, will be Friday evening, starting in Waikiki and wrapping up at the University of Hawaii'sLes Murakami Stadium.

Honolulu Police Department officials estimate that between 1,500 and 2,000 runners and walkers will take part in the Special Olympics fundraiser, which begins with a 3.2-mile run starting at 7:15 p.m. at Fort DeRussy. A 1-mile walk will get underway at 7:30, beginning at First Hawaiian Bank's Kapahulu branch. Participants are expected to enter the stadium at 8 p.m. -- during opening ceremonies for the state's Special Olympics summer games.

The torch run is named for Honolulu Police Officer Troy Barboza, who was fatally shot in 1987 in apparent retaliation for a drug arrest, according to event organizers. Barboza had served as an assistant coach for Special Olympics soccer and basketball teams.

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