Walking In Her Shoes

by Laura Breen Galante

Callie Anderson, a senior at Lake Mary High School, is making great strides in the disability community. 

Callie, who has Down syndrome, has played on the girls’ golf team for the past four years. She is the only girl with Down syndrome in the country playing varsity golf, according to the National Down Syndrome Society,

Her athletic prowess caught the attention of adidas, one of the biggest shoe companies in the world. When the brand launched an initiative a couple of years ago to develop the first shoe designed specifically for people with disabilities, Callie was among those chosen to help with the project. The end result is the Supernova Rise 3 Adaptive running shoe, modeled after the brand’s very popular Supernova Rise 3.

If the Adaptive Shoe Fits 

“For a lot of people who have disabilities, it’s hard to find a good fit,” says the 20-year-old Callie.

The feet of individuals with Down syndrome typically have a wider, flatter front and narrow back, which often results in blisters when they wear sneakers. Many end up wearing sandals, instead. But for those who are athletic, like Callie, sandals are not an ideal option. 

The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida put together a list for adidas of young people who might be interested in helping with the shoe project, says Lorin Anderson, Callie’s father. Her name was on that list, and adidas representatives liked what they saw in Callie. 

Her participation in the project was extensive. The process involved making molds of Callie’s feet, asking for her feedback about prototypes, and having her test the new shoe. 

She was also featured in the marketing commercial for the Supernova Rise 3 Adaptive Running Shoe, which debuted on March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day. The commercial was filmed at locations across Central Florida, including the Andersons’ driveway, and featured individuals with Down syndrome, wheelchair users, those with mobility and fine motor challenges, people with upper and lower limb differences, and two Paralympians.

Head Over Heels

On a side note, Callie got more than a new pair of shoes in the process. 

“I met my boyfriend at the adidas commercial!” she says, referring to Chris Nikic of Maitland.

Chris, the only person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon, also participated in the adaptive shoe project and commercial shoot. Callie and Chris, who have been dating for about 14 months, enjoy working out, playing pickleball, biking, and taking ballroom dance classes together.

“He does make me laugh,” says Callie. “And he golfs. Me and Chris do a lot. We go to Magic games, we hang out, we have everything in common.”

The adaptive shoe makes sports more accessible to those with disabilities, which is important for physical as well as mental development. 

“The idea is to help the families of people in this population understand the value of getting our kids to be more active,” says Lorin. “They don’t have to go do a triathlon, but we need to get all of our kids out.”

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Callie started playing golf when she was four years old with her mom Cheryl, a PGA golf pro and instructor at the Heathrow Legacy Club. She has also been ice skating since about the same age. 

She served as co-captain of the Lake Mary girls’ golf team her senior year, in part because of her bubbly enthusiasm for the Rams cheer, which she led before each match. Callie is the only person with Down syndrome to have played on the team.

Her notable athletic accomplishments are being celebrated in May, when she will be inducted as a proud member of the Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame.

This spring, Callie experienced a rite of passage when she attended Lake Mary High School’s prom with Chris. And of course, the sweethearts sported their adidas adaptive shoes  along with spiffy formal wear.

With the full support of her family, friends, boyfriend, and community, Callie is running toward a bright future and inspiring others along the way.