Special Olympics Sunshine Coast Orca swimmer Genny Verge is fresh from a fantastic performance in Kamloops at the 2017 Provincial Summer Games, with three gold medals and one silver. Next, she is headed to Winnipeg for the Canada Games.
Genny is one of four swimmers from SOBC competing. She will be swimming at the Pan Am Pool from Aug. 5 to 13. In preparation, Genny will be attending a training session Aug. 4 with Team BC at UBC, the first time a Special Olympic athlete has been invited to take part.
I sat down with Genny and got her take on things. She has been competing for the past six years and heard she was going to Winnipeg in March. She loves competition and is very happy for this opportunity.
When recalling Kamloops, her favourite memory was the dance as well as making new friends. Her favourite stroke, you ask? Freestyle.
I asked her mother/coach Cathy Verge for her thoughts on her daughter attending such a prestigious event.
“Seeing Genny progress from not wanting to swim to being one of two female athletes asked to represent B.C. is wonderful,” she replied. “Hard work, commitment, and Special O’s motto: ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win let me brave in the attempt’ is what has helped get Genny to where she is. Being able to help athletes get to their highest potential is what a coach strives to do and when the outcomes are medals, new personal bests and improved skills, it is good.”
These Games are an opportunity for all athletes of all abilities to compete side by side. Truly it must be an honour.
Look out, Winnipeg! Genny’s on the Verge of victory!
