Fit 5 is an international Special Olympics initiative to help athletes build healthy habits around physical activity, nutrition and hydration. It focuses on simple, achievable goals that athletes can put into practice in their everyday lives.
In Kāpiti, Athlete Leader Jack Rowe, his mentor Tim Upton and nutritionist and volunteer Andrea Simonlehner have brought their different perspectives together to help the group put Fit 5 into action.
For Jack, health is an area he is particularly interested in as an Athlete Leader. As a member of the Athlete Leadership Council, he recently travelled to Singapore for the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Regional Athlete Congress, where his focus was health. Athlete Leaders from across the region shared their experiences and explored ideas for creating positive change for people with intellectual disabilities in their communities.
Jack has been keen to bring some of that learning back home and put it into practice through Fit 5.
Special Olympics Kāpiti coach and mentor Tim, has supported Jack throughout his Athlete Leadership journey and shares his interest in helping athletes live healthy, active lives. Together, they want Fit 5 to provide practical tools that can help athletes make positive choices for themselves and challenge some of the reported health outcomes experienced by people with intellectual disabilities. Together they are passionate about spreading the word about Fit 5 and hope it will grow beyond Kāpiti.
Andrea brings the food and nutrition side to life, helping the group turn healthy eating advice into realistic everyday choices. Sessions have covered building a strong plate, understanding portion sizes, planning meals ahead and choosing fresh, filling foods and balanced snacks.
As Andrea told the group early in the programme, “Even the tiniest little step can make a huge difference.”
Putting healthy habits into practice
Across the programme, athletes have been finding different ways to move more, including walking, swimming, gym sessions and strength training, alongside activities supporting endurance, strength, balance and flexibility.
And the group is already seeing plenty of progress.
Achievements have included the youngest Fit 5 athlete placing second at a regional running event and 20,000-step days. Other changes are becoming part of everyday routines, from swapping fizzy drinks for water to reducing sugar and making different food choices.
The healthy habits are spreading beyond Fit 5 too. At community facilities, the group has been encouraging healthier choices, advocating for fewer doughnuts, more veggie sticks and water.
As the programme progresses, the group is also thinking about what happens next: how to keep practising what they have learned and make those healthy habits part of everyday life.
With three weeks still to go, there is more to come — but plenty of signs that the lessons from Fit 5 are already making a difference.
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