Skip to content

Special Olympians impress in Vancouver

Special Olympics swimmer Sharon Kostyk was won of a dozen local athletes who competed at the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Vancouver. PHOTO SUBMITTED.

Special Olympics swimmer Sharon Kostyk was won of a dozen local athletes who competed at the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Vancouver. PHOTO SUBMITTED.

A group of local Special Olympians needed an extra suitcase for the medals they received at the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games which took place in Vancouver back in July.  

The North Bay area team was made up of 12 athletes and 3 coaches.  

In the pool the local team had the most success.  

Lexi Senior captured 2 golds and 2 silver medals and qualified for the Special Olympics World Games which take place next summer in Los Angeles.  

Other athletes that won medals in the pool included Sharon Kostyk who came home with a silver medal and Robert Doyle won a gold.  

In Track and Field, Albert Faubert brought home 2 silver medals and in 5-Pin Bowling, Dan Gribbon won a silver medal.  

The local soccer team finished just outside the medal podium finishing 4th.  

That team was made up of Benji Chain, Kevin Grigg, David Mulley, Tyler Neuber, Jackelyn Osborne, Elizabeth Tremblay, Mathew Tresnak and Diane Woods.  Their coaches were Shannon Johnson and Ralph Neuber.

Rob Saunders, who served as a coach as well as being the Near North Special Olympics Coordinator, says the event was an amazing experience.  

"Our travel arrangements and the organziatiom of the games was so well done," Saunders told BayToday.ca  

"Everyone came home with a medal except for our soccer team which finished 4th overall." 

While the soccer team didn't win a medal, they showed some incredible sportsmanship after bowing out in the bronze medal game.  

"Our soccer team was amazing. after they lost, the began cheering for the other team, then they went and hugged the competitors. They were just so happy to be there," said Saunders.     

 


Reader Feedback

Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
Read more