A group of Powell River athletes did their community proud at the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, held from July 8 to 12 in Vancouver. Of the eight who competed, five came home with medals for aquatic or bowling events.
“They did very well,” said swim coach Susan Storry. “They all worked really hard, so all their work paid off.”
Bowling coaches Gail Likar and Niki Gomez cheered from back home.
Special Olympics runs on a four-year cycle, with 2014 being a national competition year. “You do regionals, provincials, nationals and worlds,” Storry explained. “We find out if any of them made it to worlds the end of September, so we’re just waiting to hear.”
Thomas White, Jordyn McGregor and David MacLean competed in individual five-pin bowling and also joined athletes from Vernon and Comox for a team event. Patrick McLauchlan won bronze for doubles 10-pin bowling and silver for a team event.
Swimmers left the games decorated as well.
Erika Barker won two bronze medals, one for 200-metre backstroke and one for 200-metre individual medley. Lance Barker won gold in 200-metre breaststroke, silver in 50-metre breaststroke, and bronze in 200-metre freestyle. Janet Robertson won silver in 25-metre backstroke and bronze in 25-metre freestyle. Robert Soumang won silver in 25-metre breaststroke and 50-metre freestyle and bronze in 50-metre breaststroke.
“There were 50 swimmers on team BC and four of them were from Powell River, so that’s pretty good,” said Storry. “This time everybody got at least two medals, and that doesn’t always happen.”
More information and photos from the 2014 games are available online.
