Special Olympics' golden boy MY BROTHER LIVED HIS DREAM

Swim coach Margaret tells how her Down syndrome sibling felt like a champion competing in the water

- Leena Tailor

It’s been 22 years since Margaret Baker’s younger brother Grant Hutcheson passed away, but the 73-year-old vividly recalls his precious last moments.

“He looked at the time on the wall and said, ‘It’s 3 o’clock. Afternoon tea time!’ Then he smiled and was gone.”

Spending their final moment together observing the time was only fitting given how much of their lives were spent watching the clock as Grant, who had Down syndrome, trained for and competed in swimming competitions, including Special Olympics events.

Margaret helped and eventually became a swim coach, with her efforts recently recognised by Queen Elizabeth, who made her an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for her service to the Special Olympics.

“Grant would’ve been over the moon, telling everybody!” she enthuses.

In the siblings’ hometown of Hastings, where Grant was well-known, 300 locals attended his funeral. The turnout reflected his friendly and social nature, which carried him through life as he faced the challenges of living with Down’s, a genetic disorder causing developmental and intellectual delays.

Margaret, the eldest of five siblings, says from the day Grant (who was seven years younger) was born, her late father Alan Hutcheson, mother Margaret, and siblings Hugh, John and Janet treated him equally.

“All the duties everyone had to do, Grant did too.”

The family was told Grant wouldn’t live long into adulthood or develop well, but Alan refused to accept it.