Attending a Special Olympics USA Team Trials is a milestone moment for Special Olympics athletes, and for many, arriving in Pittsburgh meant experiencing the Steel City for the very first time. But for Special Olympics Kentucky athlete Chris Revay, Team Trials felt more like a homecoming.
Chris was born in Pittsburgh and lived there until he was about 10 years old, before moving to Kentucky, and some of his favorite childhood memories were tied to Pittsburgh sports. That made his return for Team Trials even more meaningful. When Chris found out he had been selected to attend Team Trials as a golfer for Special Olympics USA, he was excited; but when he learned Team Trials would be held in Pittsburgh, that excitement grew tenfold.
“It was just amazing because I didn't know anything about it. I got a call, and they said I got selected. I was so excited,” said Chris.
As Chris spent time around Pittsburgh during Team Trials, the city brought back memories. He was surrounded by the sights, sounds, and culture he grew up with, including the Pittsburgh sports that he worshipped wholeheartedly.
“I’m a Pirates fan, Steelers fan, Penguins fan,” he said. “I got to see everything I remember on the bus ride over.”
But Chris’s homecoming was about to become even more memorable.
On Thursday night, during the Team Trials Welcome Dinner, athletes learned that one person would have the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the Pittsburgh Pirates game. When the emcee began describing the athlete as someone who has a close connection to Pittsburgh but hadn’t been back in a while, Chris started to think it might be him.
And when it was confirmed, “I was crying. I was so excited,” he said.
After a full day of golf practice on Friday, Chris didn’t come back to the hotel to rest, but to put in a little more work. With his first pitch at PNC Park just hours away, he practiced throwing with a tennis ball, getting ready for his big moment on the mound.
And when it was time to take the field, Chris had his Special Olympics USA teammates, coaches and his caddy by his side. He was gifted a Pirates hat and custom jersey with his name on the back. But the best part? He threw the perfect pitch, right over home plate. Chris was able to keep that baseball and had it autographed by Pirates player Billy Cook, who signaled the pitch to Chris.
For Chris, what started as a return to the city he once called home had become a night he’ll never forget. From seeing Pittsburgh again for the first time in years to representing Kentucky at Team Trials and taking the mound at PNC Stadium, his Team Trials experience is truly one for the books.