Special Olympics Lethbridge athletes capture medals at Alberta Winter Games

The stats are in for the 2023 Special Olympics Alberta Winter Games. It appears as though Team Lethbridge took home some nice hardware. A total of 24 athletes from our city took part in the event and won three gold medals in Strathcona County in Alberta.

One for figure skating, and two for five-pin bowling. Anny Chenard, the chair for Special Olympics Lethbridge told us it was an amazing turn out.

“It’s just such a special moment to be there and experience it. We train through like a full school year. So Special Olympics runs from September, usually October right up until June, depending on the sports. And just seeing how they improve, how their skill level changes, the friendships they build is a huge factor in this whole situation. And just the way that they can just come together, represent, and just have a passion for what they’re wanting to do.”

The floor hockey team from Lethbridge also took home a medal in the colour of bronze.

“I was not expecting like over 1,000 people there. I was not expecting , like, whatever. I was not expecting, like, that many people. I was surprised people showed up there. I didn’t know how many people are going to be showing up. This guy comes over and says there’s thousands of people here. I said, holy. It’s enjoyable too, and stuff. And you just go there and relax too,” says Ryhs Beler, the goaltender for the floor hockey team.

Two silver medals were also awarded to the curlers and one for five-pin bowling. Another other bronze medal was dished out for five-pin bowling as well.