Among the 1,400 athletes and 400 coaches at the Special Olympic Summer Games in Abbotsford, July 9 to 11, were 13 athletes and four coaches from the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast athletes participated in swimming, track and field, basketball and softball.
The three swimmers all came back with medals: Gus Vaughan, Lindsay Pearson and Stephanie Rogers. Amber Maher cleaned up at track with four medals. The single basketball athlete, Linsey Davidson, had a great time playing on a North Shore Team - one of two girls on a team of really tall guys.
According to Laurie Miller, coach with Sun-shine Coast Special Olympics, the basketball team didn't win a game, but showed spirit throughout the competition.
The softball team made up of Amanda Boghean, Candace Garrett, Theresa Bystedt, Kevin Norman, Ted Presley, Mike Horth, Adam Casey and Wes Harrison were joined by four players from Vancouver/North Shore. The softball team tied for third, but missed the medals by a hair as the team they tied with had won the head-to-head game. The team's proudest moment was winning against Burnaby that ended up winning the gold medal. Coaches were Gary Rogers, swimming; Liz Vaughan, track; John Huigsloot and Miller, softball.
The city of Abbotsford was out in full force, with 1,000 volunteers helping to make the event a huge success. The opening ceremonies included all 1,400 athletes entering the stadium by region.
Premier Gordon Camp-bell, Michael Campbell (chair of Special Olympics B.C.), Wally Buono (head coach of B.C. Lions and honourary head coach of the 2009 Summer Games.), the mayor of Abbotsford and other dignitaries were on hand to open the games.
After two full days of competition, the games ended with closing ceremonies and a dance. Volunteers, coaches and athletes all celebrated their achievements in the great Canadian tradition - party-on!
- Submitted
