Latest news with #SpecialOlympicsTeamCanada
CBC
26-03-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Calgary athletes bring home 10 medals from Special Olympics World Winter Games
They brought home three gold, one silver and six bronze medals from Turin, Italy Six athletes from the Calgary area are settling back home after the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy earlier this month — where they won a combined ten medals. That includes three gold, one silver and six bronze medals. The six special Olympians were among 90 athletes representing Team Canada in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating and snowshoeing at the Games. Cross country skier Sarah McCarthy, 41, was one of three local athletes who came home with a gold medal. She won gold in the 4x1K relay race with teammates Cory Beardy, John O'Neill and Marley Gayler. She also won bronze in the 2.5K free technique, as well as fourth place in the 1K free technique. "It felt really great to be on the podium," said McCarthy, who's been cross-country skiing for 23 years. "It was fun, Italy was nice, and the place where we were skiing was really amazing." 19-year-old alpine skier Maddie Cyr came home from her first trip abroad donning three ribbons — fourth place in slalom, sixth place in giant slalom and sixth place in super-G. "I was crying happy tears," said Cyr, who noted she dedicated her time on the hill to her mom who is currently in the hospital. "I know my mom is proud of me, even though she was back home and I was in Italy. She was cheering me on in the hospital." Jodi Flanagan with the Special Olympics Team Canada mission said the athletes worked extremely hard for their achievements — from daily training sessions to working with mental performance coaches. She said the medals are great, but their wins go beyond that. "So much of it was, how are they feeling? How are they succeeding in travelling to another country? How are they succeeding being away from their families and from their usual routines for this length of time?" The other athletes from the Calgary area who competed in the World Winter Games are Susan Miko, Elouise Stewart, Jennifer Riddell and Brett Garth. Altogether, Special Olympics Team Canada brought home 116 medals — 39 gold, 35 silver and 42 bronze.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three P.E.I. athletes represent Canada at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games
Three Prince Edward Islanders are among the 90 Canadian athletes at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. This is the 12th edition of the Games, which started on March 8 and last until March 15. "This is the highest level of competition for Special Olympics," said Charity Sheehan, Canada's head of delegation. "They get to compete against the best in the world and they're ready to do that." Ellen MacNearney and Tommy Ling are both competing in nordic skiing, while Callum McEwan is in figure skating. Athletes from 102 countries from around the world gathered at the opening ceremony — a part MacNearney really enjoyed in the Special Olympics. "The opening ceremony was awesome," she said, adding the best parts for her were when the snow was coming down in the stadium and when the athletes came in. Charity Sheehan is the Head of Delegation for Special Olympics Team Canada at the 2025 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. (Ken Linton/CBC) MacNearney, who lives in Brudenell, has won dozens of medals in both swimming and skiing. She last competed at the Special Olympics World Games in 2013 in PyeongChang, South Korea, where she won a gold and a bronze medal. Twelve years later, she is attending these games with a different mindset. "It makes a big difference because I was just Grade 12, just graduating from high school." she said. "And now I'm 30 years old." MacNearney is competing in the 7.5-km finals on Thursday, followed by the 5-km finals on Friday. For her, the best part of the experience isn't just the competition but also having her family there to cheer her on. More than medals While many athletes are seeking to add on to Canada's medal count, that isn't the only goal. "Some want to have personal bests, experience all [that] these world games have to offer." Sheehan said. "Others have that goal of having that gold, silver or bronze medal for sure, so everybody is going to leave it all on the snow and ice." Tommy Ling has been participating in Special Olympics competition for 14 years. (Special Olympics Canada/Instagram) Tommy Ling has been a Special Olympics athlete for 14 years. Similarly to MacNearney, he's participated in both winter and summer events, including bocce. Meanwhile, this marks Callum McEwan's first-ever Special Olympics World Games.
