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Genevieve Anne Verge takes two gold at Special Olympic World Games

Sunshine Coast swimmer Genny Verge has won two gold medals at the Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi. Genny finished first in the 25-metre butterfly and 50-metre freestyle, with one more relay scheduled for Wednesday.
Genny Verge
Genny Verge won gold on the weekend at the Special Olympic World Games.

Sunshine Coast swimmer Genny Verge has won two gold medals at the Special Olympic World Games in Abu Dhabi.

Genny finished first in the 25-metre butterfly and 50-metre freestyle, with one more relay scheduled for Wednesday.

“She continues to beat her personal best time in every event she enters,” said Pat Stuart, local coordinator for Special Olympics Sunshine Coast.

Verge, 21, took the 50-metre freestyle gold in a time of 00:33.67 on Saturday, and later that afternoon clinched her second gold in the butterfly event with a time of 00:16:98.

“We are all so proud of her and the dedication and training she has demonstrated,” Stuart said. “Her coaches and training staff are to be congratulated too!”

The Special Olympic World Games are taking place from March 14 to 21, with 7,000 athletes from 177 countries.

Verge has been a Special Olympics athlete for seven years, training with head coach Cathy Verge and Rob Hyde, coach with the Sunshine Coast Chinook Swim Club, and former Chinook coach Catherine Duncombe.