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Locals help Team BC thrive at Games
Special Olympics Team BC 2018 athletes competed with skill, sportsmanship, and pride at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.
The athletes earned more than 220 medals and achieved many personal bests at the event in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, which ran from July 31 to August 4.
“Team BC athletes did a fantastic job at the 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games,” said Leslie Thornley, Team BC 2018 Chef de Mission. “These athletes trained hard to prepare for this event and we are extremely proud of how they represented their province. It was very exciting to see them impress spectators from across Canada with their abilities and sportsmanship.”
The 243 members of Team BC who travelled to Antigonish were made up of 174 athletes with intellectual disabilities, 54 coaches, and 15 mission staff members, representing 38 communities across British Columbia.
Competing at National Games is an empowering and potentially life-changing experience for Special Olympics athletes. Through competition and training, athletes set and achieve goals, build confidence and pride, and create valued friendships.
Two local athletes, Erin Thom of Cranbrook and Kendall Salanski of Kimberley took part in the games.
Erin earned a silver medal in golf (stroke play) and Salanski competed in six swimming events, earning two bronze and a silver medal (see results below).
| First Name | Last Name | Sport | Events | Place |
| Erin | Thom | Golf | Stroke Play | 2 |
| Kendall | Salanski | Swimming | 100 M Freestyle | 3 |
| 100 M Individual Medley | 6 | |||
| 25 M Butterfly | 2 | |||
| 50 M Backstroke | 3 | |||
| 50 M Breaststroke | 6 | |||
| 50 M Freestyle | 6 |
Athletes qualified for Team BC through their performances at the 2017 Special Olympics BC Summer Games in Kamloops. Special Olympics Canada will select members of Special Olympics Team Canada for the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi based on their performances in Antigonish.
Special Olympics BC is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport. In 55 communities around the province, we provide year-round training and competitive opportunities in 18 different sports to more than 4,800 athletes of all ages and a wide range of abilities, thanks to the dedicated efforts of over 3,900 volunteers.
Lead image: Erin Thom celebrates her silver medal performance. Photos submitted
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