Human RACE
  • Home
  • About us
  • #OpenBooks
  • Blogs
    • Stories of love
    • Not so Different
    • Unleash the power
  • Contact us
Human RACE
  • Home
  • About us
  • #OpenBooks
  • Blogs
    • Stories of love
    • Not so Different
    • Unleash the power
  • Contact us
  • Athlete
  • Stories of love

Siblings, our First and Forever Best Friends!

  • April 8, 2022
  • 3.4K views
Total
0
Shares
0
0

Our siblings may tease us, prank us, and embarrass us to no end. But when push comes to shove, they’ll always have our backs. Meet 3 Special Olympics athletes and their siblings who show us why the ones we grow up with are often our most rock-solid allies and cheerleaders. Together, they’re the strongest advocates of inclusion.

Shruti and Rishabh:  

“Before the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games, my brother Rishabh was loved by us, his family. Now, he is loved by the nation.”  

RISHABH (RIGHT) PICTURED HOLDING HIS GOLD MEDAL WITH HIS SISTER SHRUTI (LEFT).
Rishabh (right) pictured holding his gold medal with his sister, Shruti (left).

Shruti’s brother, Rishabh, was born with microcephaly, a condition that affected his cognitive and physical development. He struggled to pay attention and was hyperactive. He didn’t speak till the age of 3, but when he did, Shruti was elated to the words “didi” (elder sister in Hindi). She spent at least five hours every day teaching him the alphabet and how to count. When he was called names and bullied by the kids in the neighborhood, she was the one who constantly looked out and stood up for him. Rishabh later joined Special Olympics and showed a flair for skating. Soon after, Shruti received life-changing news – her brother had been selected to represent India in skating at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. When Rishabh won a gold medal and two bronze medals, accolades from friends and family poured in. The same people who had doubted his ability were now inspired by his transformation. Shruti is committed to continue supporting her brother. She says, “He now has the power to inspire others, and show the world that nothing is impossible.”  

Aloysia & Anastasia: 

“We’re wrong to think that people with intellectual disabilities can’t achieve great things or teach us powerful life lessons. Anastasia has proven all of us wrong. We have so much to learn from one another.” 

ANASTASIA (RIGHT) WITH HER SISTER, ALOYSIA (LEFT).
Anastasia (right) with her sister, Aloysia (left).

Growing up, Aloysia longed for a close relationship with her sister, Anastasia, who has Down syndrome. But she wasn’t sure her sister would ever truly understand her. Today, they have become best friends, watching movies together, doing each other’s hair, painting their nails, and traveling. There is nothing that they hide from each other. Anastasia looks up to her sister and copies everything that she does. Aloysia, too, has learned important life lessons from her sibling. She says, “The one big thing I’ve learned from Anastasia is confidence. She embraces life and celebrates her uniqueness. Seeing how carefree she is has taught me the importance of living life to the beat of my own drum.” 

Faris & Farah: 

“After years of ignorance about Down Syndrome, I began to understand more about my sister’s condition. I also began to learn that my sister was extremely capable of achieving more than what I thought she could.” 

FARAH VOHRA (RIGHT) WIRH HER BROTHER, FARIS.
Farah Vohra (right) wirh her brother, Faris.

Faris Vohra’s elder sister, Farah, has Down syndrome. The way he likes to introduce her is as a great swimmer, his biggest role model, and someone who emanates joy. Every day, she inspires him with her strength, her sheer excitement for life, and her ability to love. Growing up, he wasn’t always supportive of her. In fact, he felt embarrassed by all the attention she drew in public and used to shy away from her. The turning point came in his teens when he watched her being interviewed on national television for her achievements in swimming. It struck him then that if strangers could celebrate her accomplishments, how could he, as a sibling, feel ashamed of her?  Today, they’re each other’s loudest cheerleaders and supporters. Faris has traveled the world with Farah as a Special Olympics advocate. Together, they help foster the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in Pakistan and across the region.  

This Siblings Day, celebrate each other and show your siblings how much they are loved! Do you have a sibling with an intellectual disability, and wish to support him or her through sport? Hit this link to find out more!  

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Related Topics
  • Down syndrome
  • india
  • Love Triumphs
  • Microcephaly
  • pakistan

Help make a difference in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Your contribution matters. No amount is too small! Click here to make a donation:

Human Race

Previous Article
  • Break My Norm
  • Not so Different

Celebrating World Autism Day – Shine On!

  • March 31, 2022
View Post
Next Article
  • Family
  • Stories of love

My Perfectly Imperfect Little World

  • April 19, 2022
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Athlete
  • Unleash the power

Strength in Every Step: Women and Girls in Sports 

  • March 28, 2025
View Post
  • Athlete
  • Not so Different
  • Unleash the power

Riya’s Journey: From Isolation to the World Winter Games

  • March 13, 2025
Lino and Alif
View Post
  • Not so Different
  • Stories of love

Beyond the Game: Alif and Lino’s Journey in Unity 

  • December 4, 2024
Coach Asia Khatun Bithi
View Post
  • Coach Story
  • Stories of love
  • Unleash the power

A Bangladesh coach’s transformative journey of dedication and inclusion

  • October 3, 2024
Sis-qo Cain (left) with his father Bosco Cain (right).
View Post
  • Coach Story
  • Family
  • Stories of love

The journey of Sis-qo Cain: Through a father’s lens

  • September 10, 2024
Natsumi Uchida on the court.
View Post
  • Family
  • Stories of love

Shooting for their dreams: A mother and daughter journey

  • April 9, 2024
Zinzael Agir
View Post
  • Athlete
  • Unleash the power

The powerlifter with the infectious grin

  • March 26, 2024
Carla Lenarduzzi at the 2024 Australian Open on Friday, January 26, 2024.
View Post
  • Athlete
  • Unleash the power

‘Don’t be frightened and go for every shot!’

  • February 14, 2024

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read more about us:

BBC News Go to BeepWeep

Special Olympics Go to Scoopwoop

ESPN Go to Buzzfeed

Follow Us
31K
1K
1K

Human Race needs your support now more than ever —

By clicking on the button below, you agree to let Special Olympics Asia Pacific contact you to share additional details about our work and participate in our marketing activities.

Yes, I want to support

Thank you for your details!

Please check your email, where a confirmation link has been shared with you. We'll get in touch with you shortly.

If you'd like to make a direct donation,

click here

Data Protection
Sign Up for Our Newsletters

You can help too!

Copyright © 2024 Special Olympics Asia Pacific

Input your search keywords and press Enter.