Scandal rocked the sports world yesterday when a secret investigation revealed that the Special Olympics, one of the nations premier annual athletic competitions, is fixed. According to the undercover probe, over the years hundreds and possibly thousands of participating athletes have been declared winners, despite losing their respective contests, often by wide margins. I dont think theres anything winning or special about finishing in eighth or ninth place, chief investigator Harlan Brundage said. Do these kids think theyre winners just because they tried? Just because they gave it their all? Well, let me tell you, trying doesnt make you a winner. Coming in first does. An estimated 15,000 athletes participated in the Special Olympics this year, and, according to Special Olympics awards records, every one of them was declared a winner. According to Brundage, until a thorough investigation can be conducted, all Special Olympians will be stripped of their medals and held for questioning. Several Special Olympics officials and judges are also being detained. Evidence of the massive scandal was first discovered June 17, during a Special Olympics competition in Milpitas, CA. Marcy Simms, a 27-year-old Milpitas resident, was declared a winner in the gymnastics competition, despite falling off the two-foot-wide balance beam some 11 times and failing to execute even a single cartwheel. Upon finishing her lackluster routine, Simms raised her arms above her head and cheered in triumph. Her parents then raced over to hug and kiss her, joyously sharing in their daughters victory. When we saw Marcy celebrating, we were immediately suspicious of corruption, Brundage said. Her routine was terriblewhat could she possibly have been so happy about? Gymnastics judge Olga Rublovskya, a bronze medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, agreed. I would give this performance of Marcys a 0.0, Rublovskya said. The routine was not very good at all. Further evidence of scandal was uncovered at this years Harwich, MA, Special Olympics, where Jeff Coombs, 32, was awarded a medal in the 40-yard dash competition despite coming in dead last out of 15 competitors. Following the race, an investigator asked Coombs if he realized how poorly he fared, to which Coombs replied, Im special! Im a winner! When the investigator countered that Coombs was neither special nor a winner, but rather an exceptional failure who finished in dead last place, Coombs vehemently maintained his specialness. These are substandard athletes at best, Brundage said. Why they are competing in something called the Olympics is a question we must answer. This shocking scandal must be uncovered. I promise a full investigation. The scandal has also resulted in a loss of sponsorship dollars. Already, Reebok and Toshiba, the Special Olympics two largest sponsors, have announced they are pulling out, and Pepsi is expected to follow. It is in Reeboks best interest at this time to put our money behind the 1996 Atlanta Games, where the athletes have proven their ability to run, jump and catch, said Marvin Balsam, Reebok Director of Marketing, explaining his companys decision to shift $158 million from the Special Olympics to the Atlanta Games. Until we see more physical skill from these Special Olympians, we have no choice but to spend our sponsorship dollars elsewhere. 