SEATTLE, Wash. - His nickname is “Thunderbolt,” his hobby is singing the National Anthem and his sport at the USA Special Olympics Games in Washington State is power lifting. And now, Mark Denardo is coming home to West Michigan with a chest full of medals.
During the competition Tuesday, July 3, Denardo won three bronze medals and one gold.
“It feels amazing,” he said. "I did my best and it went really well."
In addition to being an incredible athlete, Denardo is also a singer. He sang the National Anthem at the send-off ceremony Saturday before the athletes flew out of Grand Rapids.
“High school choir, that’s how I started to sing,” he explained. “After I sing, I go lift.” And it is the lifting that earned Denardo the opportunity to compete in the USA games and win four medals.
“It is amazing to be here,” he said.
“This is what I was expecting,” said Denardo’s coach, Jacob Miller. "He has trained hard for this.”
Now that his Olympic competition is over, Denardo has earned a break from pumping iron and training -- but he said he's not taking a break from singing the National Anthem. He has a date lined up to sing the anthem this summer before a Kalamazoo Growlers baseball game.
“I am proud of him and I love him,” said Coach Miller.
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