Article written by Angus Barnes
While tales of coaches inspiring their players are prosaic, for Special Olympics Queensland volunteer Mallika Van Pelt, it’s her athletes that have put a fire in her belly.
With four years of volunteering experience under her belt, Van Pelt has her eyes set on representing Australia at the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027. And with the inspirational backing of her star athletes, she might just get there.
It was this same factor that sparked Van Pelt’s journey with Special Olympics Queensland, first noticing the talents of a young athlete with an intellectual disability and/or autism at a PCYC gymnastics class she coached in 2021.
“I reached out to Special Olympics Queensland because I saw some potential in them, they were my inspiration.
“The need for a program was actually there, specific classes for athletes with disabilities so they didn’t have all the noise distractions and didn’t feel isolated if they couldn’t execute a skill.”
Funding was provided for equipment and coach training to enable specialist classes, and while the program ceased after Van Pelt left in 2021, she says the relationship she fostered with the athletes is what brought her back to Special Olympics Queensland.
“I had come from a history of disability, that was a passion of mine after high school, and that’s been the driving force for owning a club, gymnastics is something all athletes should have available to them.
“I came back to it two years ago when their parents followed me to my club and wanted to develop that Special Olympics aspect more.”
Van Pelt’s club, Coastal Champions Gymnastics are an affiliate program of Special Olympics Australia – Queensland, and support athletes with intellectual disability and/or autism with specialised classes tailored to their skills.
But it’s not just Van Pelt’s athletes that have risen through the ranks, with Van Pelt herself being selected as a Queensland State Gymnastics Coach for the Special Olympics Australia Summer Games Melbourne 2026, hosted in October.
She credits this move to the support offered by another volunteer who encouraged her to apply, despite Van Pelt’s own reservations about her greenness.
“I thought maybe I need to wait a few years or become more known, but she said no you’re already ready.
“We went to competitions on the Sunshine Coast and being able to help all the athletes while they’re away from home is what they were looking for.
“Being able to work with the staff, we all share the same values and want the best for the athletes whether they’re winning or not, but I realised I do want them to win.”
Heading a team of eight of the state’s most talented gymnasts, Van Pelt says volunteering has helped her realise her dream of developing the next generation of Special Olympics gymnasts.
“You form a bond with the other athletes in the Queensland circuit to encourage them, we all want to strive to see them achieve something.
“The competition isn’t as big now as it’s going to be, we’re right at the start of it.
“The more athletes in competition, the more volunteers that can jump on board, the better it is for the athletes and it’s going to bring momentum to the sport.”
It’s this momentum that she hopes will carry her to Chile for the Special Olympics World Games Santiago 2027, a competition that will bring over eighteen thousand volunteers together.
But despite her lofty ambitions, Van Pelt’s day-to-day remains firmly rooted in the grassroots.
She has used her specialised gymnastics programs to support athletes with an intellectual disability and/or autism from other sports to develop their skills.
“I had a tennis coach who wanted one of his players to do cartwheels to help him with his serving.
“He had a list of demands and gymnastics was the best avenue to achieve those skills.
“Working with some of these athletes, their physios have a plan, and I can use gymnastics to back that up to help them achieve their goals.”
Leveraging eighteen-years of gymnastics experience has helped Van Pelt spread her skills across sports, but she encourages people of all skill levels to volunteer with Special Olympics Queensland.
“Just go for it. Unless you have a specific sport, you tailor your skills to, just try a couple.
“Some coaches cross between sports, and I would encourage volunteers to expand their area of expertise.
“Standing beside athletes when they are achieving great things is the greatest reward that volunteering provides.”
Mallika Van Pelt is one of 330 coaches and volunteers supporting Special Olympics Australia’s mission of using sport to create an inclusive world for people with intellectual disability and/or autism.
About Special Olympics Australia (Queensland)
Special Olympics Australia is part of a global movement using the power of sport to build a more inclusive world for people living with intellectual disability and/or autism. In Queensland, as in other states, they provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to get involved in sport, as participants, coaches or officials, while also offering programs for volunteers, young athletes, and schools. Their Inclusive Sport Academy supports those who lead and deliver inclusive activities, helping to share knowledge, increase capability, and foster a sense of belonging.
Want to help make Queensland more inclusive through sport? Interested in learning more about volunteering with Special Olympics Queensland?
About Angus Barnes