Marlton resident represents United States at Special Olympics World Games
If one were to attend a Special Olympics New Jersey competition, there’s a decent chance they’d get to see 32-year-old Marlton resident Steve Rodenbeck.
Rodenbeck is a busy athlete, competing in programs year-round in flag football, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball and tennis. He’s participated in numerous Special Olympics events, including on a floor hockey team at the Winter World Games in Boise, Idaho, in 2009.
Just a few weeks ago, Rodenbeck got to check off another box on his long list of athletic accomplishments
Rodenbeck played on the Team New Jersey unified volleyball team in Los Angeles last month at Special Olympics Summer World Games. The team was chosen to represent Team USA in the unified volleyball tournament.
The World Games is the largest international summer event for Special Olympics. Like its Summer Olympics counterpart, it is held once every four years. Los Angeles hosted this year’s event. It was the first time the Summer World Games were held in the United States since 1999.
When Rodenbeck found out he’d have the opportunity to participate in the Summer World Games for the first time, he was ecstatic.
“I was jumping over the stars,” Rodenbeck said. “It was a great feeling to be selected.”
Rodenbeck was one of just 17 athletes from New Jersey selected for the games. In addition to the unified volleyball team, four triathletes, two gymnasts and two cyclists from the Garden State also traveled to Los Angeles. Having already represented the United States at the Winter World Games in 2009, Rodenbeck couldn’t wait to do it again.
“I feel very honored to represent our country,” he said. “It’s just a great overall feeling. Its something we were very proud of.”
Rodenbeck began playing unified volleyball a couple years ago after participating in a clinic. He competed with Team New Jersey in the sport at the Special Olympics USA Games in 2014.
Unified volleyball is a unique event at Special Olympics where athletes with disabilities compete with those without intellectual disabilities, named “unified partners.” Rodenbeck said playing with unified partners has allowed him to make new friends and learn more about volleyball strategy.
“What happens is they show you how to position yourself,” he said. “There were a couple times we had to switch from right to left and from left to right and the partner would show us how to get set and in position on offense and defense.”
Shortly after the 2014 USA Games ended last summer, the volleyball team found out it would be going to the World Games in 2015.
“We received a letter in the mail saying we’ve been chosen to represent the United States,” Rodenbeck said.
The team traveled to California the week prior to the start of the world games and trained at University of California-Riverside.
Once the competition got underway, Team New Jersey ran into some tough competition against countries such as Germany and Austria. Roddenbeck said the team’s goal was to put its best effort forward each match.
“We just wanted to go out there, do our best and have a great time,” he said.
The team fell short of a bronze medal, but Rodenbeck said participating was enough of a reward. Some of his favorite memories weren’t the actual match, but rather activities the team did off the court.
“I enjoyed the different trips we made,” he said “We went to Hollywood, the Walk of Fame, the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.”
Rodenbeck also loved the international flavor of the World Games. He said it makes the event unique from some of the other Special Olympics events he participated in.
“We get to trade things with them,” Rodenbeck said. “I even traded my USA polo shirt for a Finland polo shirt.”
Rodenbeck plans to continue his busy athletic schedule with flag football this fall and hopes to return to the World Games in the future. He also hopes others in his community get involved with Special Olympics, saying a little bit of effort can go a long way.
“Just do your best and have fun,” he said.
