Latest news with #MatthewGabello
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2 local Special Olympics athletes headed to Italy for World Winter Games
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — 900 athletes were in Rochester Saturday for the Special Olympics NY Winter Games. The games included floorball, gymnastics, cross country skiing, and figure skating among others. On figure skating, News 8 learned that two athletes from our area, Matthew Gabello, and Cori Piels, are headed to Italy to compete in Turin. Both are from Rochester, and have been skating for more than 20 years. 'I'm competing down there in Italy, I've been there four times,' Gabello said. 'Special Olympics here in Rochester – we have done this for a very long time. I've been an equestrian in Skidmore, already won two gold medals and multiple medals.' The World Games in Italy next month feature over 1,500 athletes from over 100 delegations. Piels said she's excited to be challenged on an international scale. 'I love figure skating. It makes me feel good,' said Piels. 'It makes me feel passionate, and I feel like an angel floating across the ice.' Let the games begin: Special Olympics NY Winter Games holds opening ceremony in Rochester Their coach said they have grown as athletes for sure, but even more as people. Matthew Gabello (left) and Cori Piels (right) pictured at the NYS Special Olympics Winter Games figure skating event in Rochester. (WROC/Eric Schedlbauer) Saturday, News 8 was also able to catch up with some of the skaters competing as part of this weekend's Special Olympics New York Winter Games, which took place in various locations across Monroe County throughout the day Saturday. 'What it feels like to be out on the ice – is like being that person that glides onto the ice like a fresh angel. This year, I'm doing a song I'm Not That Girl, and I'm in character as Elphaba. So, it really makes me feel like I'm Elphaba, Defying Gravity on the ice,' said Emma Cahill. 'It's just a big family to me, that I really know who I am – because they have taught me many things that I thought I wouldn't be able to do, because, from the past year, what I've been saying, is that some people, when I was little, they thought I couldn't walk, I couldn't talk. But, well, I am now 22. I am here, right now. And what I love about figure skating is everything – seeing my friends, seeing my teammates! So, it has shown a bright light in my life, and I am loving it,' Cahill said. Cahill said she has been with the Special Olympics for about 11 years now. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Let the games begin: Special Olympics NY Winter Games holds opening ceremony in Rochester
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Nearly 900 athletes and coaches gathered at the Riverside Convention Center Friday night to celebrate the 2025 Special Olympics New York Winter Games opening ceremony! At 7 p.m., athletes shook hands, mingled and geared up for the competitions, which kick off Saturday at different venues across Monroe County. A little about the state's winter games: All the programs are offered to athletes at no cost to them, their families or caregivers. Athletes will be competing in seven different sports categories, including cross country skiing, figure skating and gymnastics. 'It's been wonderful. It's been over 23 years I've been skating,' said Matthew Gabello, a special olympics athlete and figure skater. 'I've been skating at RIT campus over the years. The Genesee Figure Skating Club at RIT – that's been where I've been competing, working with my private coach.' Special Olympics leaders said the energy Friday night during kickoff was electric. National Engineers Week: An inside look at L3Harris operations 'The athletes get to parade in front of their friends and fans and family and get the recognition they deserve. It really pumps them up and gets them excited for a big day of competition tomorrow,' said Stacey Hengsterman, Special Olympics New York CEO and President. Friday, leaders also announced the winner of the 2024 outstanding coach of the year award, which is given out each year to a volunteer coach from NYS. To learn more about the events this weekend or to donate to Special Olympics New York, an organization dedicated to providing opportunities to folks living with intellectual disabilities, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
