Student Michael Yang Qing brings home Special Olympics gold from World Games in Abu Dhabi
Posted: April 3, 2019 2:00 p.m.
Michael Yang Qing, Campus For All student at the University of Regina, wears gold at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. Photos: Mr. Darren Inouye, Team Canada Mission Staff
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A veteran of three Special Olympics Summer World Games, swimmer Michael Yang Qing brought home four medals - three gold and one bronze - in the 800m and 1500m freestyle, the 4 X 100m medley relay butterfly, and the 400m freestyle categories, respectively, at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.
A proud member of the 109-strong Canadian Special Olympics team, Qing stood alongside 7,500+ athletes
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Michael Yang Qing, member |
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A proud moment for members |
from more than 170 countries at the emotional opening and closing ceremonies this past March.
Qing is no stranger to teamwork, training with the Cougars swim team in the past. He currently trains with the Regina Masters Swim Club five times a week and at Level 10 with Special Olympics Regina every Sunday. A student through and through, he applies lessons learned during training to challenges he faces in his daily life.
"To set up approachable goals at the beginning of each training session helped me to achieve the goals for each training session. There are lots of challenges in my life. The goal setting helps me deal with these life challenges one by one," says Qing.
As a student at the University of Regina, 26-year-old Qing is part of the Campus For All (CFA) inclusive post-secondary education initiative for adults experiencing intellectual disability. Academics, social connections, and employment are the three pillars of the CFA student experience. CFA students engage in participatory auditing of one class per semester, submitting modified assignments. At the end of at least six full semesters (to a maximum of eight semesters), CFA students receive a certificate and participate with their peers in Convocation. CFA students also receive alumni status within the U of R Alumni Association.
Now in his fourth year at the University, Qing's classes are mainly in the Faculty of Media, Arts, and Performance. He also works at the University's Fitness and Lifestyle Centre and credits his professors, classmates, supervisors, co-workers, job training coach, and his parents with helping him develop new skills and friendships.
While his future may include competing in the 2020 Down Syndrome World Games in Turkey, Qing says his current focus is on his life outside the pool.
"Swimming is a fun part of my life. It helps me maintain my fitness level and healthy lifestyle, but I am also focusing on building my personal and professional relationships," says Qing.
"The University's Campus For All allows me to be a student at the U of R. I feel confident because I am included in the big U of R family, CFA helped me to socialize with other students, professors, and staff. I enjoy participating in University events and feel proud to wear the U of R uniform," says Qing.
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For more information on the University of Regina's Campus For All initiative, visit https://www.uregina.ca/student/accessibility/campus-for-all/index.html