Athletes have returned home from the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games held in Thunder Bay Ontario last week.
Team New Brunswick brought back 5 gold medals, 7 silver, 10 bronze and 13 personal bests, for a total of 22 medals.
Chef-de-mission for the games, Jane McKeown says athletes train all year for a chance to compete.
“These programs start up in September, when registrations usually run, and then from there they go to regionals and then to provincials so this is another step for them,” she says. “And then the opportunity to go to the World games and just following the stream like generic sports makes them feel very included.”
McKeown says a team of volunteer coaches help the athletes prepare by holding training camps, giving them nutrition advice and coordinating their uniforms.
She says giving athletes an opportunity they may have never been given otherwise is very rewarding.
