SPORTS CATEGORY

I would like to be a great writer so I would be able to convey to you why Ronald Choiniere (Special Olympic Athlete) should be part of Bristol’s Sports Hall of Fame along with Bristol’s greatest athletes and sportsman.  He did, as a special Olympic athlete participate in almost every phase of the special Olympic program regionally and state.  He ran both 100 and 50 meter dash, standing long jump, softball throw, shot put, 25 meter walk in the track and field program.

He did swimming for two years (50 meters); gymnastics for 2 years (balance beam & floor exercise) and bowling program for 4 years.  In the Waterbury Regional Special Olympics he was selected as the first Bristol athlete to carry and light the Olympic torch for the days games.  The most outstanding thing is the courage and desire to accomplish what he did.  He had major heart and lung problems from birth that he lived as long as he did was a miracle in itself.  Nothing ever stopped him. The year he had open hears surgery, in January, he got a silver medal in 100 yard dash and gold medal in standing long jump.  His desire to compete was never more evident than his last year of competition.  Despite the fact he was hooked up to an oxygen he competed in the shot put, softball throw and standing long jump.  He was given a varsity wrestling letter and jacket by Dennis Siegman and the Bristol Central Wrestling Team.  He was given a Bristol Central Football jersey by Coach Tom Bruni.

He was the person chosen by the Bristol Soap Box Derby (special division) to be photographed by the Bristol Press. Another program he won trophies in.  In 1992 the Bristol Tramps Sports Reunion Committee selected him to receive the Bill Garrett Award for his contribution to sports in Bristol.  It was just about the greatest night of his life, as the song goes, “One moment in time”.

Ron passed away in August of 1993.  The Bristol Tramps Sports Reunion Committee then helped keep his name alive by naming one of their awards in his memory.  The Ron Choiniere Award is now one of the six awards they bestow on people.  He did win a great number of gold, silver and bronze medals in his special Olympic career.  If they gave gold medals for his charisma, courage and desire he would be number one!

When my son was born and I found out he was down syndrome child, I spent the first month in church asking God why he did this to him.  But then when you see the love he give and how he brought our family so close together you realize one thing.  In my wifes’, Pat, words: we weren’t sent a son, we were sent an angel.

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In the twelve years that Ron was in Special Olympics he participated in track events (100 and 50 meter dashes, soft ball throw, standing long jump, 25 meter walk and shot put). He got gold, silver or bronze medals in all these events. He participated in gymnastics (balance beam and floor exercises). He also won gold, silver and bronze medals. He participated in bowling for which he won gold, silver and bronze medals. He had heart surgery in January, 1986 and won a silver medal for 50 yard dash in June. He was selected to light the torch at the Waterbury Regional Olympics.

He was involved in Bristol Soap Box Derby winning 2^nd and 4^th place trophies. A special division car was named in his memory after his death.

In 1992 he was awarded the Bill Garrett Award for his contributions to Bristol Sports by the Bristol Tramps Sports Reunion Committee. After he passed away in 1993, the Bristol Tramps Committee selected Ron Choiniere Award for Special Athlete people.

When the Bristol Central Wrestling Team won the 1985 State Championship they voted to give him a Bristol Central “B” and they also gave him a Bristol Central jacket.  Bristol Central Football coach Tom Bruni gave him a jersey with 00 letters.  Lou Holtz, Notre Dame football coach, after reading an article about Ronnie sent him an autographed Notre Dame hat.

There have been quite a few articles written a bout Ron before and after his death.  I believe that no one has done more to make us aware of Bristol’s Special athletes than Ron Choiniere.