Episode 17, Talking South Carolina Podcast Interview with Anthony Buzzetti and Gold Medalist Travis Luthren from the Special Olympics of South Carolina

Episode transcript:

Angela Barrett – “Hey guys, thanks so much for being with me today. This is exciting.”

Anthony Buzzetti – What? Thank you very much for having us. I’m Anthony with Special Olympics.

Travis Luthren – And I’m. I’m who? I was early to win. And thank you so very much for the opportunity.

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. Thank you for doing this. So now, Travis, in 2014, you won two gold medals, right? At Special Olympics USA, right?”

Travis Luthren – I’m a yes. That is correct.

Angela Barrett – And that was for what?

Travis Luthren – Down with the two of me?

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Now, were there two different? I mean, explain like, I know there are different, types of swimming events, but what were your two gold medals for?”

Travis Luthren – “One in your best work and one where they freestyle? But, but the best work is a personal history with me. Well, because from the very beginning. The very beginning. Backstroke with a hard for me. So I have in for many period of time.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, I was going to say now the backstroke hard for anybody because I always think that I’m going to be my head when I get to the other end of the pool and you’re like, you don’t want to really keep going. But that is a hard one. Congratulations. How fantastic they are, baby man. Tell me about that experience there at the Olympics.”

Angela Barrett – How was that.

Travis Luthren – “It? Well. Prove it. It was phenomenal. It was a great period for me. Because I was with my peers. One of my training, I yeah, one of my coaches, he would. He was there as well. And what I experienced then and and my mom, they were there as well as a part of me and Phil.”

Travis Luthren – “Dad. And, they had the emotions, my mom was, well, but, well, her that. My mom is my biggest cheerleader. And then, as he knows my his past well from the very, very beginning to his 1990. Yeah. Then the backstroke was still hard for me back then. And, in the year 2014, my, mom was more than proud, dying up with their backs to it.”

Travis Luthren – “Oh, yes.”

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. And again, congratulate nations. Now, when did you when did you start swimming?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, I started in 1997.”

Angela Barrett – And how old were you?

Travis Luthren – “Well, right now, they five.”

Anthony Buzzetti – How old were you when you started swimming?

Travis Luthren – “Oh, I, I was eight years old. You had to be, eight years old to be able to compete.”

Angela Barrett – “And so, how did you learn to swim? Who taught.”

Travis Luthren – “You? Well, this is a very touching set. Said. But what? One of my car broke up that, I am, yeah, that was you meet. Her name is Miss Simone. MSU was the one that taught me how to, how to swim.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. That’s great. So now when that was not your first Olympics, was it? Or was it.”

Travis Luthren – In 2014? That was my first.

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. That is a big accomplish to gold. Fantastic. Now, I understand you like to go polar plunging.”

Travis Luthren – “I mean, I, I am most definite. I said the, It is a great event. We have probably, how we, 10,000, people take, that and that goes out and get in. Do they code? Oh, they call water.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well, I don’t know, but, Well, yeah, you like that kind of stuff. I’m just going to tell you now. No, I don’t, but now, how many of those have you done? Because you don’t just do them here, you go other places and do them, too, right?”

Travis Luthren – “That is correct. But I’ve been, doing the polar plunge, probably doing the to, How were you in the 20 tens and 2000 time nine? Wow.”

Angela Barrett – So now what would you say was the coldest one you ever did?

Travis Luthren – “Well, the very, very first one was, at, a Harley’s Island. There’s a pub down and, at parties Island, and that was the very first, the. That was so cool. And cold to me. Yeah. I bet.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah, that that had to be cold. And you know what? My hat is off to you because. No, thank you. I can’t do the cold water. Now, when you came home from the Olympics in 2014, you started a program called, to a cop. What was that all about?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, that’s a good question. Typical cop. Well, Well, Special Olympics, we have a lot of na enforcement and the law enforcement and special, Olympics and the appendix we, combine especially with Nathan’s chip and, and and one of the nine enforcement, Me and the person with nine policemen, I says, this I decide to do a backup.”

Travis Luthren – “Where we go, there was a restaurant in the old stomping ground called, and, oh, hot dome fire. American Grill, right near in Pike in South Carolina.”

Angela Barrett – “And so we’re the, the typical the money that you raised in that program. Where did it go for it go.”

Travis Luthren – But as a a occurred to me to the law enforcement program.

Angela Barrett – Oh nice. Very nice. Now does that program still exist?

Travis Luthren – “Yes it does. Oh, I we always host to backup, event. We done Wednesday. We done Krispy Kreme. We done covered the cruiser at CCF. Pizza. But as you graduate in the past and now we have expanded, the law enforcement program, and we’re always doing some new and creative. Law enforcement events.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well that’s fantastic. That’s a, that’s a great program. And, good for you for, including them and some extra. Thank you. Now you’re actually now an employee. The South Carolina Special Olympics, correct?”

Travis Luthren – “Yes, that is correct.”

Angela Barrett – “And as a program associate, is that right?”

Travis Luthren – I am most evening. That is correct.

Angela Barrett – “Okay. Now, what does a program associate do? What do you do? What’s your job?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, that’s a good question. I, well, heard is that I do a number of of everything. Let me give you some examples. Okay. My main, And my main job is to do fundraising in the community. I also do, I write personal. Thank you to everyone that donate that owns a company. And I most definitely go around, to different types of events.”

Travis Luthren – “That requires for me to, to be a to speak on TV type, engagements. So I do that. And, and I must do every event when I get a phone call from my boss that says that we need you.”

Angela Barrett – So who’s your boss?

Travis Luthren – “Well, there’s, well there’s two, DC. I’m, the CEO of Special Olympics, Mr. Barry Coates. And the vice president, Miss Simone.”

Angela Barrett – “Gotcha. Gotcha. Well, they’re lucky to have you. Now is it?”

Travis Luthren – “Oh, and, here’s where and, and here’s what. So, in the stand, just to those two has a personal background with me. The CEO and the vice president has been known to me since I was, seven, eight years old in the year of 1998.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. Now, how did they know you that far back?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, because, the, Well, with Michelle, well, I was the one that taught me how to swim. And the CEO, Mr. Barry Coates. The old location where they used to be was downtown, and downtown Columbia. And during that time, my mom, she wanted me to be involved with Special Olympics. And then that’s where I first met Barry Codes.”

Travis Luthren – “And, the both of them has been, there for me from the very beginning.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, how sweet. And that’s what a nice relationship, though. That’s great. Let me ask you this. You’re the director of, community outreach, right?”

Anthony Buzzetti – “That is correct. Yes, ma’am.”

Angela Barrett – And how long have you been doing that?

Anthony Buzzetti – “I’ve been here for six years. It’s been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I don’t know how it is that I ever had a job that I didn’t like, because it just seems impossible. I, I come to work every day looking forward to actually interacting with not only my coworkers, but in particular the athletes. There’s just such, joy here.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “I know that sounds kind of corny, but it’s true.”

Travis Luthren – “No, I, I yeah.”

Angela Barrett – “That’s fantastic. I know everybody in there and their brothers and sisters would wish for that. I mean, this that’s the perfect, perfect job. Now, what is what’s the biggest part of your job? What is it? It’s the glue, I guess, for you.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Sure. Well, for me, my job is to try and secure volunteers because we need just a bunch of folks at all of our events. And then certainly, we like to have folks come out to help us when we have small groups of athletes getting together to either do a supporting training session, or coaches also need to be part of our our family.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “We’d like to think that our volunteers are our family, because without them, we could not continue to offer our programs and our competitions. So yes, that’s the the biggest part of my job here. But the most fun and most rewarding aspect is getting to interact with the athletes, which I get it, you with both. Ashley, coworker of ours and Travers on a weekly basis.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “And yeah, it’s just a very fun thing. So it’s a great fun.”

Angela Barrett – “Now, Travis, let me ask you this. You started a program called Walk This Way, right?”

Travis Luthren – “I, me a yes, Fred.”

Angela Barrett – And now tell me a little bit about this program. What what what is the program? What’s it do?

Travis Luthren – “Well, the, Okay. Well, the program is this, Journey? Yeah, definitely a journey. During the years my coworker and I, music Anthony got me involved. Now I go outside to take a walk to, and to be, for me to eat. Right. And we have, I mean, to be able to work out, but, but be honest with me.”

Travis Luthren – “I been through quite a few things in my life. Yes, I was, obese. Yes, I was overweight. I didn’t, care about my health. I didn’t understand the food that I eat every single day. And I was on so many different types. And medication. Now I, like, I take pills for my gout history. I, I had, a good, medication, but I had, some tab of, surgery and some.”

Travis Luthren – “I says, and, and that’s why I started this program, and it’s very dear to me. And I just want people to know and learn what if you go outside and walk, it can help you, right?”

Angela Barrett – “As I go through that, you’ve lost, like, 79 pounds. I understand right?”

Travis Luthren – “Net, 95 pounds.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, wow. Okay. Excuse me. Well, congratulations on that as well. So would you say I guess your health, with the help of Anthony has probably been. Was probably what made you start this program?”

Travis Luthren – “Yes. Correct. His personal background. He used to own in Time Fitness. He’s a somewhat of a non guy, dad. And he. And he’s been doing that way before. He came in to me and came along to this company.”

Angela Barrett – Yeah. Quite the athlete with.

Anthony Buzzetti – “Travis is giving me far too much credit. It should be noted that while it was true I was there, I was only an assistant. It was Travis who did everything. His level of dedication was very clear. Not exactly from the start. If it’s some encouragement. At first, it was very difficult to get him out because he would have difficulty just walking up a flight of stairs.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Sure did have some terrible reflux, as he mentioned, and he now no longer takes his medication because with the loss of weight and the more healthy choices, what he’s eating is, he’s sleeping better. He has far better cardiovascular health. And, yes, I’d like to think he’s going to live a much longer and happier life as a result.”

Travis Luthren – “And yes, that is correct. And I’ve, I’ve got to mention this to you, but, my doctor, I have, my mom’s company. His name is. His name is Nate Stocker. He and Nate said to me, that he, what was it he said? He said Darren and game, and he gave me a good look at me, and he turned to me and encouraged me to, take a device.”

Travis Luthren – “The, he helped me to take my, determined that I need to walk. He was the one that bring my, to give me the tools to pass it along to my coworker. And Nate Stark is very dear to me, and, And I can thank him, and I can thank him in the way that he had helped me.”

Travis Luthren – “I had, and now of a support system. And does the way people is my data. Nate Stocker my coworker, Miss Anthony Bessette and Nevaeh Nast, one my, yeah, my own mom, Miss Susan, mean, so when.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Well, that is a that’s a fantastic support system, by the way. And, good for you for doing the work. And now I understand you’ve become quite the, what’s the word I’m looking for? You go around and talk to people about their health and encourage them to wall, which I guess is part of this walk with me program.”

Travis Luthren – That is correct.

Angela Barrett – “And so when you go around and you speak with these people, do you tell them not only is it important to do the walking and eating correctly, but to have the support system as well, because I think that’s a big part of it, don’t you?”

Travis Luthren – “Most definitely. What you don’t have as a post system from the very beginning. And and during the night time, you always need to put the, system where it is evident then how you do the work.”

Angela Barrett – “Right? Right. And so now tell me about this going around, and talking to, I guess different schools or different organizations. How do they, how do you do? They reach out to you and say, hey, come walk with Travis today with us, or how’s it work?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, that’s a good question. They call, my coworker, and my coworker makes the appointment, and we our. And he comes and picks me up from our house and we go to them to do some, business, and, and he also takes me to the, the schools in the District of South Carolina.”

Angela Barrett – “Oh, nice. And so, Anthony, sorry, this is if somebody like, let’s say a an office, you know, come January, everybody’s going to be, you know, on this health kick. So, they want, you know, somebody to come in and encourage, you know, I don’t know, once a month, once every other week, once, you know, they just reach out to you and, and try to work that out.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Yes, ma’am. I think it could be said that I am Travis’s booking agent, and one of my job is to certainly make sure that we know and that we let folks know who are interested, and we’re happy to come out and be with them. And we’ll certainly work around their schedule. Like, yes, we have a relationship with any number of schools.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “You know, Luke of Elgin High School comes to mind. River Bluff High School here, right at, couple of middle schools and elementary schools. Dominion Energy is a partnership.”

Angela Barrett – Yeah. Did see that.

Anthony Buzzetti – “We are more than happy to join. And what we’re trying to do is really just inspire folks, allow them to see that, you know, getting in shape or taking control of your health, while it may be somewhat tedious, can also be fun, especially when done in a group setting. And so it’s just a fun event. We try and emphasize the fact that it’s not as hard as it it seems, but yet we’re all there to support one another.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “And so I’d like to think it works pretty well. And we’ve got engagements. We’ve got a big walk coming up. It’s November the 25th, Saluda shins, LaBelle Trot and I’m really looking forward to that.”

Travis Luthren – “So yes. I mean, we, Sammy Davis correct. But I think, we’ll be okay. I can share my personal, with the program that I diet. All right, if I may.”

Angela Barrett – “Absolutely. Because I was going to ask you when you started and, you know, like, how long this is taking you to, to do all that. So to definitely tell me that.”

Travis Luthren – “Well, to be honest, with you,”

Travis Luthren – “Diabetes, mind and the family and the of the have, there’s a lot of. At the heart, and, and when it comes to alcohol, it’s very, very, Course, our history and mind. What? Because,”

Travis Luthren – I had last a parent.

Angela Barrett – “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

Travis Luthren – “Oh, well. Thank you. But, that’s what I I’m good. 12. What I need to take care of. I do want, my history to go to dinner. I did go to the next year waiting in my damn need to have those to family because I grew up with them, but, Yeah, then my senior, Grayson.”

Angela Barrett – Right. And so when did you start? How long has this taken? So when did you start your journey to get healthier and lose weight?

Travis Luthren – “But, Yeah. Boy, that’s a good question. Probably 2022, 2020 the way.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “It was actually January 11th, 2022. So we took our very first formal walk on that day.”

Travis Luthren – And nice.

Anthony Buzzetti – That was a cool.

Angela Barrett – The 22 said just a little over two years.

Anthony Buzzetti – “Yes, ma’am. Ma’am.”

Angela Barrett – “So, perfect way to do it. There is from what all I’ve read and heard and been told, you know, nice and steady and slow, is a good way. And so.”

Angela Barrett – “Tell me in this groove, I think so tell me what the Rainbow Gang is. There’s a.”

Travis Luthren – “I’m, I’m okay. Well, the rainbow game is a, is a group where individuals like me, they, they provide, things in the community, and, and and this in, in South Carolina and they provide, my coworker could tell you what, what they did, but then. Okay. In in addition to happen there and, came peace.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “Sure. It’s a group of individuals, adults with intellectual disabilities from Anderson. They are. I guess they’re headed up, if you will, by Kathy Schofield and Tessa Healy. And together this group meets on a daily basis. They attend events, they perform their own events, they have a spring Special Olympics games. It’s a very active group and they’re great spokespersons for Special Olympics.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “So we’re happy to have them as part of the Special Olympics. Family. I believe there are approximately 17 athletes and they participate in tennis and pickleball, bowling and bocce, and they’re just a fun gang, as the name would imply, the Rainbow Gang. So oftentimes you’ll see them arriving in their Rainbow Gang bus, and they just make things more exciting and fun when they’re around.”

Angela Barrett – “Well, Travis, I think I saw and how I got that was, somewhere on Facebook. I think that we’re doing a walk with you. Walk with Travis. And I know they did some funny videos with you, and I saw a couple of moccasin costumes. And again, that was how I knew about the Rainbow Gang, but that was kind of funny.”

Angela Barrett – That was great.

Travis Luthren – “Well, And, Yeah. What? Thank you. And, but, my I. Yeah. What I learned from my coworker. You need to make it fun. You need to make it interesting. Well, because if you don’t, how would it go out in the, in the community?”

Angela Barrett – “That’s right. I agree. Now, let me ask you this for your event that’s coming up, Saluda Shoals, November the 25th. I know that they can sign up. I guess, through you guys. Or is it through Saluda Shoals?”

Anthony Buzzetti – “We would prefer that they sign up through us because we’re trying to create our own Special Olympics group license, not our event. We must mention that this is a strictly running event done by the folks at Saluda Shoals that the Irmo Recreation Commission. But they’ve allowed us to be a partner. And so we’re very excited about that. We’ll have a big presence there.”

Anthony Buzzetti – “At the race last year, we have 77 of Trev’s closest friends, and this year we hope to have as many as 140 or so.”

Travis Luthren – “Yes. That’s correct. And, what he said, my dear friends from the period a times, they, come and walk with me and his, and, and plus, he what touched me, the funding last time that we worked at that event, one of my, Yeah, one my during my school years, my, my at,”

Anthony Buzzetti – “My at,”

Travis Luthren – “I, I at level one and my school, my teacher came out. Oh, nice. And that was so, as borrowing from me and. And so that’s why that, that all the people that, that came out, they share me on and that’s what it’s all about, is to have people, to come and walk to, and to enjoy the Christmas night and people that has been poor me through, through the beginning, through, every age that I was by then.”

Travis Luthren – “And, and they are and walk with me.”

Angela Barrett – “That is great. So that’s what I was going to ask you. So if you sign up through, you guys, for the wall to wall with Travis, do you physically do I physically get to go? And what will drive us? I mean, is that what we do need?”

Travis Luthren – “Yes, dear.”

Anthony Buzzetti – Is if you can keep up with it.

Angela Barrett – “Well, now, that might be a problem.”

Travis Luthren –

Anthony Buzzetti – “His promise to better his personal best time from last year. So just be aware, he may be motoring his way along. So keeping up with him may not be.”

Angela Barrett – “So it’s A5K, right. And so you’re going to.”

Anthony Buzzetti – Walk only 4.2 miles.

Angela Barrett – Oh okay.

Anthony Buzzetti – “So it’s a little bit longer than a five right. But it doesn’t seem quite so long because of course you’re walking among the Christmas lights here with friends. And oh if it’s not raining, it could be a very funny name.”

Angela Barrett – “Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Try some steps. Do you try to get to a day? What’s your goal?”

Travis Luthren – “Well, my main goal is 10,000 steps per day. Nice.”

Angela Barrett – And do you make that every day?

Travis Luthren – That is correct.

Angela Barrett – “Nice, nice. Yeah, I tried that one time. I switched to a regular watch. Now, there’ve been no, no special, bells and whistles. Now, Charles, are you planning to go, participate in the Olympics again?”

Travis Luthren – “And, that is correct. If I get picked to go to the, training to the next games. But you have to get picked. Sure. I’m ready to go.”

Angela Barrett – “Sure, absolutely. Well, I’ll look forward to, watching for that upcoming news when it’s time to do that. Guys, I thank you. So very much for being with me today. This has been very special. I have wanted to talk with somebody for a while now from the Special Olympics, and I’m so glad it was you guys.”

Angela Barrett – Thank you so much.

Travis Luthren – Amna I’m right. Yeah. Well thank you very much. They were doing this. And it does have a great. Always chasing that very dear to my heart forever and ever.

Angela Barrett – Well thank you. And I got one last question from us why they call you Mad Dog.

Travis Luthren – “Use has hit a soft spot. Is the, well played? Is that, If they defend, that takes me to, But, team bag weekend, I’m a big high that, I’m a big, high Davidson fan. And I got that, that nickname Mad Dog. My bite is worse than my bank. So when I get mad in my self, I tend to, my way.”

Travis Luthren – “Head temper. Well, be my background. History. Most read has have a lot of temperament. And that’s what goes down in my family history.”

Angela Barrett – “That is funny. Well, that’s a funny story. And thanks so much.”