Nick Anderson celebrates his 30th birthday at the RSA Hastings on Friday, July 10, with mum Jenny, sisters Kristen (left) and Melissa. Photo / Duncan Brown
Nick Anderson celebrates his 30th birthday at the RSA Hastings on Friday, July 10, with mum Jenny, sisters Kristen (left) and Melissa. Photo / Duncan Brown
At a time when peers at school were fretting over which camping trip to go to or what to wear to the ball, Nick Anderson was simply content to choose life.
It was, at times, frustrating watching others engage in able-bodied activities because the "developmentally delayed" youngster was, for a good part of his schooling, in special needs units.
"Physically I wasn't very strong," says the now 30-year-old from Hastings, who participated in athletics and swimming at school when not hanging out with good mate Brad Wisnewski, 29 (now living in Auckland), from kindergarten days.
But the flame of confidence from within fuelled a spirited outlook on life that kept burning over the years.
So much so that Anderson jetted off to the nine-day Los Angeles Special Olympics in the United States last Thursday to compete in golf.
"I'm going to go to whip some American butt and go for gold," says the grinning, bespectacled one from the comfort of the lounge of his Mayfair flat.
Seconds later he attributes that outburst of competitiveness to his family - parents Jenny and Peter Anderson, as well as sisters Melissa, 27, and Kristen, 24.
Peter and the daughters travelled on Wednesday to attend the Sunday, July 26 (NZ time), opening ceremony of the international games that will host 7000 athletes from 177 countries under the guidance of 3000 coaches and the help of 30,000 volunteers.
First Lady Michelle Obama will be in the honorary chair of the ceremony, which ESPN's Channel 60 will televise live from 1pm to 6pm (NZ time), that boasts Stevie Wonder, Eva Longoria and Avril Lavigne among headlining acts, as well as special appearances from the likes of Michael Phelps, Yao Ming and Greg Louganis.
The Andersons also will attend at least one of Nick's four days of competition and the equally star-studded closing ceremony of an event that will lure more than half a million spectators through the turnstiles.
Anderson, who is travelling with tenpin bowling manager Ian Baldwin, of the Bay, will be based at Camarillo, one of 100 host towns in Southern California.
"On Monday, July 27, I'll be going to Disneyland," he says.
His family also will sightsee, including a visit to Las Vegas, while he plays.
Getting on the podium to the tune of God Defend New Zealand, of course, remains his priority.
Nick Anderson with his father Peter.
"It's going to mean everything to me," says Anderson, a former Lucknow School, Kohawi, Heretaunga Intermediate and Havelock North High pupil, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, July 10, at the RSA Hastings.
For someone who was game to give something a try, gold medal will be godsend but "any colour will do".
"I will feel very proud to represent my country and receive a medal.
Only three weeks ago Anderson dislocated his knee while tenpin bowling.
"I hope it doesn't play up on the golf course," he says, adding he simply "pushed the knee back into place".
When not working as a caretaker's assistant at Lucknow School or looking after other disabled people at day base service centres, Anderson finds time to hone his skills. He believes he has equal ability in driving, putting, chipping and approach shots in nine-hole rounds.
His father, who is a fitter/turner and isn't a golfer, took him to the Sharpies Driving and Golf Range when Anderson was 18, after swimming from the age of 4.
"Within a year I knew I was good at it," he says, enjoying winning medals and ribbons.
Ben Warren, Andrew Henare and Andy McNab, professionals at Sharpies, helped the golfer who receives lesson from Hastings PGA professional Brian Doyle these days.
"It was a great idea to do something different," says Anderson, who has travelled to the Gold Coast (2006 Special Olympics international silver) and Christchurch and Dunedin for Special Olympics national medals.
In the process he has made many friends around the country and hopes to gravitate towards them after leaving his mum's home two years ago to flat.
He hopes to represent his country for about another decade in golf but, with a dose of realism, acknowledges it'll depend on how long "the old man's body" will hold out for, otherwise there's always tenpin bowling.
