This year, my daughter L , a teenager with Autism won a silver medal in the Special Olympics cycling race in Germany. But beyond the medal, it was her thoughtful gestures on the field—and the quiet transformation we saw during practice—that truly moved us.
The Spark: A Simple “Yes”
In January, when the temperature was near zero and outdoor cycling seemed impossible, we asked L:
“We wonder if you would like to participate in the Special Olympics again this year?” She smiled and said, “Yes.” We gently reminded her that “Yes” would mean lots of practice. She agreed again. That was our starting point.
Before we even began physical training, I showed her videos of her past races—where she had won gold at the state level and bronze at the national level. Every time she watched those clips, her face lit up with joy and pride. That emotional connection became our anchor for the journey ahead.
Step by Step Through Resistance
L hadn’t cycled for four months due to winter, and she was out of touch.
We faced resistance:
- Refusing to wear the helmet
- Not wanting to sit on the cycle
- Parking the bike and sitting on the pavement
We didn’t push. We waited, listened, supported.
At first, we rode short distances. Slowly, we made it to the park. She often walked beside the cycle instead of riding it. We focused entirely on making her feel safe and emotionally regulated.
Momentum and Motivation
A few weeks in, she started riding full rounds in the park (400 meters). We stayed by her side. Then we asked: “Would you like to try two rounds?” She said yes. Then three. Then six. By this time, she was riding confidently without us walking beside her. To our surprise, after six rounds, she didn’t stop. She wanted to keep going.
She eventually reached 10 rounds on her own—calm, focused, and motivated.
We witnessed something profound:
➡️ Her self-regulation
➡️ Her ability to make dynamic decisions (navigating people, obstacles, turns)
➡️ Her confidence in unpredictable situations
We were in awe of her competence and growth.
📹 Watch her progress in action:
Growing through Practice
Over 3 months of preparation:
- Over 70% of the time, she was focused and attentive
- On off-days, when she chose to walk her bike, we listened without judgment
- Her sincerity to show up remained unwavering
- Practicing with her brother made her even more enthusiastic
The shift was not just physical. It was emotional, social, and deeply developmental.
The Magic Behind the Medal: Co-Regulation and RDI
The real foundation of this transformation?
Our ongoing journey with Relationship Development Intervention (RDI).
Through RDI, we addressed the core challenges of Autism:
- Co-regulation
- Self-regulation
- Joint Attention
- Interpersonal responsibility
- Agency
Working on co-regulation with L brought visible magic:
- Calmness
- Willingness to face challenges
- Confidence in unpredictable settings
- Emotional sharing
- Thoughtful decision-making
The silver medal was one of the outcomes of this deeper inner work.
Want to Read about Coregulation?
Improvements We Observed This Year
✅ Self-regulation: completed 10 rounds (vs. 5–6 last year)
✅ Motivation: showed sincere desire to practice
✅ Decision-making: adapted well to real-time situations
✅ Consistency: committed practice over 3 months
Challenges That Still Show Up
⚠️ Initial resistance to wear the helmet
⚠️ Sometimes walked the bike mid-practice instead of riding
But these weren’t roadblocks. They were part of the journey—one that we navigated together with patience and trust.
Final Reflections
The medal is special. But the journey—the quiet struggles, the persistence, the moments of growth—is priceless.
If you are a parent walking a similar path, know this:
Progress doesn’t always look like perfection.
Sometimes, it looks like showing up.
Sometimes, it looks like sitting on the pavement beside your child.
Sometimes, it looks like quiet competence shining through.
And sometimes, it looks like a silver medal earned through connection, not competition.
📌 Related Read:
Want to know how we encouraged both siblings to cycle together?
