Langley athletes returned home from the Special Olympic Canada Games in the Maritimes with a fistful of medals in track, swimming, basketball, golf, and bocce.
A contingent of local athletes proficient in bocce, golf, swimming, track and field, and basketball participated in the Games in Nova Scotia last week, several of them bringing home one gold and a number of silvers in their various sport.
Michael Savage, for instance, ranked in several of the running events: he earned sixth place in the 400-metre sprint, fifth place in the 100-metre, and fourth place in the 200-metre. Meanwhile, his best placing was second in the 4X100 metre relay.
The BC Warriors basketball team, based out of Langley, also earned a silver in the blue division, after defeating Manitoba once and Ontario twice before falling to Manitoba in the gold medal game.
In the pool, Langley’s Josh Law came first in the 50-metre freestyle and fourth in the 50-metre backstroke. In the meantime, Aldergrove’s Jennifer King took second in the 50-metre backstroke and breaststroke, plus placed sixth in the 50-metre freestyle.
Bocce player Robert Carate also earned a silver in his sport, while Jason Muldoon brought home an eighth-place finish in golf.
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Team BC athletes did a “fantastic job” at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games bringing home a total of 223 medals, said Leslie Thornley, Team BC 2018 Chef de Mission.
“These athletes trained hard to prepare for this event and we are extremely proud of how they represented their province. It was very exciting to see them impress spectators from across Canada with their abilities and sportsmanship, Thornley added.
The 243 members of Team BC who travelled to Antigonish were made up of 174 athletes with intellectual disabilities, 54 coaches, and 15 mission staff members, representing 38 communities across British Columbia – including the contingent from Langley.
Competing at National Games is an empowering and potentially life-changing experience for Special Olympics athletes, Thornely said. Through competition and training, athletes set and achieve goals, build confidence and pride, and create valued friendships.
