Gold, silver and bronze medals are being worn by Manitoulin Island Special Olympians following some great performances at the Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games.
Team Coach Judy Olacke says they won six medals in all and several top-five finishes at the competition last week in Thunder Bay.
She says it was a wonderful experience for all five members of the Island team with Team Ontario winning 52 out of the 82 medals in showshoeing, outside of the relays.
Olacke adds the National Games is the country’s largest multi-sport event and runs every two years.
Olacke says competitor Matt Bedard was selected to participate in the celebrity fun snowshoe race paired with Scott Moir of Olympic & World ice dancing fame. Matthew taught Scott some snowshoe skills & strategy and then Scott raced the other celebrities (Mark Tewksbury (Olympic swimmer), MP Peter MacKay & a rep. from Sobeys/Safeway along with their paired National Games snowshoe athletes.
Bruce Vanhorn was adopted by Westmount Public School during the past year and they fundraised to help him participate in the Games. He was invited to visit a class, but the entire school greeted him with fist pumps and cheers and had made dozens of cards and inspiring posters for him as well as several thoughtful gifts. Sara Umakoshi works at Westmount (who previously lived on Manitoulin) knew Bruce and so the gifts were so perfect for his interests. He received a school t-shirt and hat, lanyard & backpack as well as chocolate treats, a $25 Tim’s card and a travel coffee mug.
THE FINAL RESULTS:
Matt Bedard (1 gold, 2 silver)
5 km –1st    22:29.70 personal best time
800 m –2nd   02:59.90 personal best time
400 m – 2nd    01:16.80 personal best time
Dayne Tipper
800 m – 4th place 06:01.70 personal best time
400 m – 4th place 02:51.10 personal best time
Bruce Vanhorn (1 bronze)
100 m- 5th place  00:31.70
200m- 3rd 01:05.80Â Â personal best time
Norm Daoust (1 silver, 1 bronze)
100 m- 3rd  00:43.40
200m- 2nd  01:47.10
Mark Dokum
100m- 6th place  00:19.60
200m- 4th place 00:42.80
Photos provided by Judy Olacke
