Greenwich Resident Travels to Athens to Compete in Special Olympics World Summer Games

Frank Edward Smurlo III, known as “Fes” for short, began competing in the Special Olympics as soon as he met the minimum age requirement of eight. At that tender age, the Greenwich native began participating in a series of sports, running the gamut from track and field to volleyball. In 1991 he competed in the Equitation category at the International Games in Minneapolis-St. Paul, bringing home two gold medals.

Now, more than three decades later, the persistent athlete with Down Syndrome is traveling to Athens, Greece to compete in yet another sport, this time sailing with unified partner and skipper, Kera Connolly, 48, in the 13th Special Olympics World Summer Games. Smurlo has only been sailing for 12 years, yet he and Connolly qualified for the World Games by winning gold at the state level in 2009 in a fall regatta at the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club.

Fes said he enjoys sailing with Kera as his skipper and thinks the pair makes a great team.

Both soft-spoken and understated, Connolly of Norwalk insisted she receives more than she gives to Special Olympics. And while many volunteers follow an intellectually challenged sibling or child into the world of Special Olympics, Connolly explained that she simply heard about a volunteer opportunity through a friend and offered to help. That was 18 years ago.

“It’s so rewarding. I’m not on the sidelines. I get to sail and teach people to sail. I love being a part of it,” Connolly added.

In the weeks leading up to his departure on Saturday, Smurlo has been feted with a series of local sendoff parties. At a rousing farewell at the home of Jodi and Dan Donahue in Riverside, Fes made a short speech to the guests who had ventured out in the pouring rain to wish him well. Fes thanked his hosts and friends and promised to do his very best in Greece to make everyone proud, “especially my mom,” he told everyone, “who will be watching from above and have the best seat in the house.” At that moment, according to Fes’s father, Frank, the rain abruptly stopped, yet there was nary a dry eye in the house.

Frank Smurlo related that his son is more than a multi-sport athlete. “Fes is something of a savant when it comes to Broadway shows. Years ago Fes met Helen Hayes, who was working at a feverish pace at a book-signing event. The actress had hardly looked up from her work until Fes began speaking to her.

According to his father, Fes said, “I know all about you Miss Hayes. You won the Tony Award for Best Actress for Happy Birthday in 1947.” Fes’s father said that as he went on to recite a long list of Hayes’ awards, performances and dates, tears came to the actress’s eyes.

Not only does the multi-sport athlete have a way with words, but he also a gift for making friends. Fes said he was particularly eager to make use of the pouch full of Special Olympics pins each athlete receives. He plans to exchange pins with each of the friends he makes during his two weeks in Greece at the World Games.

Despite his winning record, Fes insists the Special Olympics are all about the effort. There is no doubt he will adhere to the oath that all athletes recite at the beginning of the Games: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, make me be brave in the attempt.”

This weekend, Smurlo will be Greece and compete through July 4th and whatever the outcome, his friends and supporters hope he does his best and has a great time.