THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507250131
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Watch out, Mark Spitz.
Here comes Aziz Weaver.
With 18 medals, two ribbons, a medallion and a trophy - all from the Special Olympics - Weaver has the famed former Olympic swimmer beaten. Spitz, a swimmer in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, won only 11 medals.
Weaver's favorite award, however, is the third-place medal in the 200-meter dash, which he won a few weeks ago at the Special Olympics World Games in Connecticut.
``Some of those people were pretty fast. I was trying real hard - my best,'' said Weaver, who earned the bronze medal. Times are intentionally not recorded by the Special Olympics because participation is more important than winning, officials said.
``I was making history!'' Weaver said.
And he was. Weaver was the first Norfolk resident ever to go to the World Games, held every four years.
``I shook President Clinton's hand,'' a beaming Weaver said. ``He put the medal on me.''
Weaver, 23, who is mentally handicapped, has come a long way since his foster mother, Donellia Williams, enrolled him in the Special Olympics program four years ago.
He graduated from Lake Taylor High School last year and has been on a job search. He has developed his own exercise plan - lifting weights, jogging and playing basketball - which he follows religiously every day.
``I am so proud of him,'' said Williams, who took in Weaver after her eight children left home. ``I tried to motivate him, but he motivates me.
``He tries so hard.''
And he has the medals to prove it. Every so often he polishes the golds, silvers and bronzes and recounts every triumph in track and field, basketball, soccer and bowling.
``He's got a lot of drive and motivation, particularly a lot of speed and coordination,'' said Dave Lannetti, head coach for the Norfolk Special Olympics team. ``He's more than self-sufficient. He loves athletics. He's a very gifted athlete.''
More than 7,100 athletes from more than 140 countries were selected to compete in the World Games. There were 42 participants from Virginia, but only two were chosen from South Hampton Roads: Weaver and Tiffany Richards, 16, of Virginia Beach, who won a silver medal in the 25-meter backstroke.
``I made a lot of friends there. I saw (Arnold) Schwarzenegger,'' Weaver said. ``We had a good time.''
But now that the nine-day event is over and official practice has been put on a two-month hiatus, Weaver said he wants to keep busy and do more than his daily exercise routine.
He has applied for jobs at several fast food restaurants near his home in Azalea Lakes section of Norfolk. He hasn't had any luck yet.
``I want to get a job so badly. I want to work in a kitchen,'' Weaver said. ``I don't know why they won't hire me.''
Williams said she believes that Weaver has been discriminated against because of his handicap.
``I feel so bad,'' she said. ``He doesn't understand why they won't hire him.''
But Weaver keeps on dreaming.
He hopes to someday be like his hero, basketball player Michael Jordan.
``I hope,'' Weaver said, ``I'll be a star.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Aziz Weaver, 23, is the first Norfolk resident to compete in the
Special Olympics World Games, held recently in Connecticut.
by CNB