Adam Advocaat
Local Community
Coquitlam
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
I've been a Special Olympics athlete since 1997. My parents were looking for a way for me to be involved in sports after I was diagnosed with autism, and this is what they ended up finding for me. I started with soccer and since then I've been a part of more than ten different programs over the last 29 years.
Will this be your first Special Olympics Canada Games? If not, what other National Games did you compete in, and in what sports?
This is my third Special Olympics Canada Games. My first time was in 2004, when I earned 2 Gold medals for alpine skiing in Charlottetown. That was an interesting one because "White Juan" hit the Maritimes while we were there and we got snowed in for a day and a half! My second was in 2014 when I earned 3 Bronze medals for athletics in Vancouver. Being able to compete in front of the home crowd for that event was super special.
What were your results in the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games? How did you feel about your performance?
I went to last year's SOBC Summer Games with the Coquitlam Tigers "B" softball team, where we ended up winning our first-ever Gold medal. Having not been to a Provincial Games for softball in so long, I was skeptical about how I would perform, but I was very pleased with myself afterwards. I was able to find an extra gear in my personal performance, and so did the rest of my team. Over the weekend, I thought I hit way better than I normally do, and I was hitting the mark on all my difficult throws and making plays. My team also responded very well; our bats really came alive that weekend, and we had an athlete hit our first "out of the park" home run in the team's history. Safe to say, I think all the other Tigers enjoyed that weekend as much as I did.
What does being part of Special Olympics Team BC 2026 mean to you?
Being a part of Team BC means representing my fellow athletes, the province, and SOBC with pride, dignity, and respectfulness. It means putting my best foot forward, giving my best effort, and upholding the Special Olympics Athletes' Oath for all of BC. For this event as well, with it being my first opportunity to make this journey with my own team, it means leading by example and preparing my teammates for what's going to be an incredible week.
What is your goal for these National Games?
In terms of my sport, I'm looking to improve my hitting. For many years it feels like I've been locked down the middle, but my performance at the Provincial Games last year showed me I can still place hit to a degree. After seeing what we can do as a team, I also want to build arm strength for a more powerful hit. Away from the sport, I want to use this opportunity to regain my fitness, get myself back in shape, and work on my mental side so that I can recognize, subdue, and "RESET" my emotions in the middle of a game.
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience to date?
My favourite experience was attending the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. After the 2014 National Games, I was called up to fill an opening on the soccer team, and it's been the marquee moment of my 29 years in the Special Olympics movement. We finished 4th, but I enjoyed every moment of those two weeks, being able to compete with other athletes around the world and being able to represent Canada with pride. It's the reason why I'm so excited to be able to share this experience with my own team coming up to Nationals, because I want them to experience the joy and excitement that I've had on these trips beyond the Provincial Games.
What do you like most about the sport you will compete in at National Games?
It's the excitement you get in short spurts, and it's a sport where even the most unsuspecting player can do something big. Making a big play off a line drive, turning a double play, or delivering a clutch hit gets my adrenaline going every time, and it makes up for all the slower moments of the game.
What would you say about Special Olympics to encourage someone to get involved?
It's not just about the sport, it's about the experiences and the positive effects it will have on your life. I wouldn't have been able to do many of the things I've accomplished in life, had it not been for my own involvement in Special Olympics.
Please tell us a little bit more about yourself! What else would you like people to know about you?
I've volunteered for the BC Hockey League's Coquitlam Express for almost fifteen years, and am the team's head off-ice official for their home games. I've had opportunities to work two different Fred Page Cup Finals as a result, and even worked the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in 2022, which included a nationally televised final game. The tournament that year had names such as Michael Misa, James Hagens, and Macklin Celebrini, who now all either play for or have been drafted by NHL teams. It's just one of the few things I credit to my long-time involvement in Special Olympics for giving me the ability to do things like this, including being able to work full-time.