Beth Meyer, long-time resident of Bittersweet Farms and a Special Olympian, brought home a silver medal in the 50-yard freestyle. The games took place in Orlando, Florida, from June 4-12. In addition to her silver medal, Meyer placed fifth in the 50-yard breaststroke and seventh in the 100-yard freestyle.
A decorated Special Olympian in both swimming and skiing, Meyer has competed in both sports for decades at the state level and considers her medals one of the greatest accomplishments of her life.
At 60, she became one of the oldest athletes to compete nationally in swimming. She spent the last year training weekly at the Wolf Creek YMCA in Maumee, thanks to the generous support of the Greater Toledo YMCA.
Reflecting on her experience competing in the USA Games, Meyer said, “I thought I was going to best in breaststroke, but I shocked myself by winning in freestyle. There are no words for how I felt standing on the podium. I have medaled in Ohio before, but this time I medaled in front of the whole United States. It felt like I was queen of the world.”
Bittersweet Farms Executive Director Dustin Watkins said, “We are so proud of Beth’s accomplishment. Aerobic activity is a hallmark of the philosophy of Bittersweet Farms and we are thrilled that Beth’s hard work paid off at the games.”
Meyer felt the support of the Bittersweet Community, both in Northwest Ohio and beyond. “Bittersweet did a big send off when I left for the games,” she said. “This whole place has been supportive of me for the last year as I trained, competed, and brought home the silver.”
When asked what is next, Meyer pointed to her next training goal: “Special Olympics downhill skiing.” But first, a few recovery laps this summer in the pool at Wolf Creek YMCA.
Since 1983, Bittersweet Inc. has been serving adults and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders across three locations in Ohio. Bittersweet offers unique supports that encourage individuals with autism to grow and develop their abilities and talents in an agricultural setting. The mission of Bittersweet Inc. is to positively impact the lives of individuals with autism and those whose lives they touch.
