Team Alberta's Floor Hockey team celebrates a bronze medal at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Athletes Darryl Loutitt, Brendon Mercier, and Darren Pedersen from Grande Prairie helped the team pick up the bronze. Photo Credit: Blain Fuller

By Shane Clausing

Special Olympics

Successful week for Grande Prairie athletes at 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games

Mar 2, 2020 | 2:26 PM

It was a successful week for Grande Prairie athletes at the 2020 Special Olympic Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay. The games were held from February 25-29, and saw seven athletes from Grande Prairie all medal while representing Alberta at the games.

Nikki King took home a silver medal in the 100-metre snowshoe race, she also won bronze in both the 200 and 400-metre events.

Tricia Cramer, Steve Grandjambe, Desiree Rehm and Coach Cathy Withers won a silver medal as part of the 5-Pin bowling team event. Cramer also took home bronze in the singles.

Team Alberta’s floor hockey team, which included Darryl Loutitt, Brendon Mercier, and Darren Pedersen picked up bronze in the yellow division.

Kelly Hollahan with Special Olympics Grande Prairie says she’s happy with the athlete’s performance, especially since they only sent seven athletes to the games.

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“We’re really proud and happy with all of their work, a lot of them reached their personal bests. We took home quite a few medals for the few athletes that we did send down there,” said Hollahan.

Hollahan also spoke to the passion and sportsmanship of the athletes at the games, whether they medaled or didn’t.

“I can’t say we were expecting medals from them, definitely they worked hard enough and did us proud whether they did or not,” said Hollahan. “They were grateful for the experience, had good sportsmanship and shook hands with everyone whether they won or lost. A lot of the athletes were just happy to be there.”

Now that the national games are finished, there is still an unknown if there will be a Special Olympics World Winter Games. Currently, there isn’t a host city for the event, which would bring together thousands of athletes from around the world.

Last year’s games were held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and took place for seven days.

With the world games up in the air, many of the athletes from the games turn their attention to qualifying for the Special Olympic Provincial Summer Games in 2021 as most athletes compete in both winter and summer events year-round.

Next year’s Provincial Summer Games will be held in Strathcona County.