IN Real Life Video: Special Olympic Athlete Emily Arbic-Cohen from Georgetown, Ontario

Georgetown’s Emily Arbic-Cohen is like any other serious athlete. She trains hard, she eats smart and she’s always thinking about ways to improve.

The fact that she also has Down syndrome becomes secondary when she’s thinking about what move she wants to add to her rhythmic gymnastics routine.

Now 28, Arbic-Cohen, is a five-time gold medal winner at the provincial championships held earlier this year in Kitchener-Waterloo.

“Gymnastics makes me feel like a champion,” she told INsauaga.com.

Arbic-Cohen is a part of the Halton Hills Sunflowers Special Olympics rhythmic gymnastics team. Her favourite discipline is the free routine.

“There’s no equipment, just movements you do with your body to a piece of music.”

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Arbic-Cohen’s mom, Christine, is her biggest supporter.

“From a parent’s perspective, the Special Olympics gives Emily the idea she’s an athlete first, not someone with Down syndrome. It’s a different way to think about herself.

“When she’s making choices about what she’s going to eat, she’s always saying ‘I’m an athlete,’ before making her decision.”

The pair watched a lot of the recent Olympics together, especially the gymnastics.

“She couldn’t sit still. Every couple of minutes she was getting up and trying out a new move she saw, thinking about ways to add it to her routine. To her, there’s no difference between herself and any other competitor.”

New at her Level 3 this year is the ability for Arbic-Cohen to choose her own music and routine. In previous years, every gymnast’s routine was scripted, including the music.

“Heck ya,” was her reaction to the new rule. “I love this idea and I think it gives me more freedom. I have some good ideas for the ribbon event.”

And after missing a trip to the Worlds pre-COVID by .25 points, Arbic-Cohen will be working harder than ever to get there this time.

“Sports is important because it gives kids a sense of belonging and that you’re part of a team sharing a common goal.”

Arbic-Cohen shares her passion and passes on her knowledge to youngsters at Cartwheels Gym Centre, where she is an assistant coach in a preschool program.