The Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024 came to a close on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, and our Team Sask. athletes did an incredible job on the national stage. Walking away from the Games, Team Sask. left back to Saskatchewan on Sunday with a total of 29 medals! Congratulations and thank you to every single athlete, coach, and mission staff for making the 2024 Games a memorable experience for all.
Team Sask. (made up of 48 athletes, 9 coaches, and 18 mission staff), took part in the Games hosted in Calgary from February 27 to March 2. Athletes competed against others from all across Canada in 8 different sports: Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, 5-Pin Bowling, Curling, Floor Hockey, Snowshoeing, Figure Skating and Speed Skating.
Let's recap the full week:
All athletes, coaches and mission staff arrived in Calgary on Monday, February 26th in the afternoon from a full day of travel and it was an early night for all. The following day, athletes had the opportunity to practice and then got ready for Opening Ceremony's. 5-time National Games athlete Daniel Fiedelleck and his curling team had the honour to be Team Saskatchewan's flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies! With an incredible Opening Ceremony's on Tuesday evening, everyone was hyped and ready for the next 5 days of competition.
The competition days were action-packed and full of ups and downs as the athletes faced and overcame challenges, beat their personal bests, and of course, created long-lasting memories and stories. Team Saskatchewan brought home 9 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals (for a total of 29 medals). At the Closing Ceremony's, Speed Skating athlete Jordan Stevenson had the honour of holding the Team Sask. sign. It wouldn't be a Special Olympics event without a Special Olympics dance to wrap things up. Following the Closing Ceremony's, athletes participated in the "Glitz and Glam" dance to celebrate a week well-done.
Here is the full breakdown and results for Team Sask:
Gold
- Taylor Barth (Alpine Skiing - Intermediate Giant Slalom - M1 Final)
- Michael Qing (Alpine Skiing - Intermediate Super G - M3 Final)
- Harold Robinson (Individual 5-Pin Bowling - M4 Final)
- Greg Donaldson (Individual Snowshoeing 200m - 9 Final)
- Jordan Stevenson (Speed Skating 1000m - 3 Final; 1500m - 2 Final; 3000m - 1 Final)
- Team Saskatchewan (Curling - Chinook Arches Division)
- Daniel Fiedelleck, Scot Earl, Rodney Mitchell, Mitchell Moore, Ysabel Senecal
- Team Saskatchewan (Team Snowshoeing - 4X100m Relay)
- Greg Donaldson, Madalyn Gramiak, Austin Gutting, Jordan Vassell
Silver
- Shea Mueller (Alpine Skiing - Novice Super G - M1 Final)
- Dylan Dovell (Cross Country Skiing - 100m Classical - M2 Final)
- Greg Donaldson (Individual Snowshoeing 400m - 6 Final)
- Jordan Stevenson (Speed Skating 500m - 5 Final)
- Team Saskatchewan (Team 5-Pin Bowling - Bow River Division)
- Candace Bates, Philip Brockmeyer, Peter Mark, Nicholas Popowich, Sarah Wolfram
Bronze
- Taylor Barth (Alpine Skiing - Intermediate Slalom - M2 Final; Intermediate Super G - M1 Final)
- Michael Qing (Alpine Skiing - Intermediate Slalom - M1 Final)
- Shea Mueller (Alpine Skiing - Novice Giant Slalom - M1 Final)
- Dylan Dovell (Cross Country Skiing - 500m Classical - M1 Final)
- Jordan Blomme (Cross Country Skiing - 2.5km Classical - F3 Final)
- Bo Carriere (Cross Country Skiing - 2.5km Classical - M2 Final)
- Maria Bergerman (Individual 5-Pin Bowling - F1 Final)
- Jocelyn Ehr (Individual 5-Pin Bowling - F9 Final)
- Madalyn Gramiak (Individual Snowshoeing 100m - 2 Final)
- Austin Gutting (Individual Snowshoeing 200m - 8 Final; 400m - 8 Final)
- Team Saskatchewan (Team 5-Pin Bowling - Stampede Spirit Division)
- Margaret Dreaver, James Graham, Chris Lavallee, Roger Olson, Kile Wilson
- Team Saskatchewan (Team 5-Pin Bowling - Wild Rose Division)
- Maria Bergerman, Jocelyn Ehr, Melissa Hinz, Harold Robinson, Robin Stetler
- Team Saskatchewan (Floor Hockey - Wild Rose Division)
- Wesley Belanger, Kyrren Dean, Byron Deckert, Jeffrey Deckert, Bradyn Giraudier, Kyle Giraudier, Tyler Haddad, Kalim Keays, Matthew Langille-King, Zane Lauristen, Brayden McNeill, Travis Rieder, David Sanguais, Trevor Thibault, Jeffrey Wiebe
Congratulations to all of the athletes, coaches, and mission staff (once again) for doing an incredible job throughout the week. Thank you to all of the fantastic volunteers, event organizers, family, friends, and of course host city Calgary for a memorable Games!
Stay tuned for all the pictures coming shortly on our Flickr Page!
