The 2020 BC Winter Games in Fort St. John were a huge success, where Special Olympics BC figure skaters and speed skaters from all over the province showed their skills in this significant competition!
SOBC – Surrey’s Deborah Carter was the Head Coach for the Special Olympics speed skaters at the 2020 BC Winter Games. Prior to competition she felt the team was looking very strong, with everyone showing an excellent work ethic and confidence in their abilities. Carter said the athletes “added a weekly 30-minute dryland session… [focusing on] endurance, core strength, and speed” in preparation for the recently added 1000m speed skating event.
The figure skaters were also primed and ready to perform, with athletes converging from Abbotsford, Fort St. John, Port Alberni, Vancouver, and Victoria to compete and showcase their talents. Figure skating Head Coach Kailee Bowman from SOBC – Victoria said, "One athlete in particular is so beyond excited, she is calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
Figure skater Alexander Bell from SOBC – Port Alberni managed to harness his nerves for day 1 of competition and push through with confidence. Despite the competition, Alex displayed the spirit of Special Olympics, saying his “goal for the Games is to improve. If you don’t improve and just want to win…well you can’t. If you’re bad at something, it’s just an opportunity, not a barrier.”
These BC Games are distinct from Special Olympics BC Games, which are our Provincial Games hosted by SOBC solely for SOBC athletes. SOBC athletes have been showcasing their skills in the generic BC Games for 17 years, competing in Special Olympics divisions.
You can find up to date results from the Games here.
For more information, please contact SOBC Sport Coordinator Jean Tetarenko by email or by phone at 250-883-2452 / 1-888-854-2276 toll-free.
Below is the complete Special Olympics BC roster for the 2020 BC Winter Games:
| ZONE | NAME | ROLE | SOBC LOCAL | SPORT |
| Zone 4 | Chassetty Berkowski | Athlete | Coquitlam | Speed Skating |
| Zone 8 | Gabby McGillvray | Athlete | Dawson Creek | Speed Skating |
| Zone 8 | Kianna Sherk | Athlete | Dawson Creek | Speed Skating |
| Zone 4 | Bradley Laforce | Athlete | Coquitlam | Speed Skating |
| Zone 4 | Johnathan Berkowski | Athlete | Coquitlam | Speed Skating |
| Zone 4 | Sean Casey | Athlete | Coquitlam | Speed Skating |
| Zone 8 | Quin Rude | Athlete | Dawson Creek | Speed Skating |
| Zone 8 | Michael Ryder | Athlete | Dawson Creek | Speed Skating |
| Zone 5 | Trevor Chang | Athlete | Vancouver | Speed Skating |
| Zone 6 | Mark Hamblett | Athlete | Victoria | Speed Skating |
| Keith McKeeman | Coach | Dawson Creek | Speed Skating | |
| Stanley Chang | Coach | Vancouver | Speed Skating | |
| Deborah Carter | Head Coach | Surrey | Speed Skating | |
| Raistlin Van Spronsen | Junior Coach | Dawson Creek | Speed Skating | |
| Zone 4 | Kalya Polege | Athlete | Surrey | Figure Skating |
| Zone 8 | Kaleigh Byford | Athlete | Fort St John | Figure Skating |
| Zone 4 | Hillary Birkett | Athlete | Surrey | Figure Skating |
| Zone 6 | Kari Trott | Athlete | Port Alberni | Figure Skating |
| Zone 6 | Lucas Bell | Athlete | Port Alberni | Figure Skating |
| Zone 6 | Matt MacDonald | Athlete | Port Alberni | Figure Skating |
| Zone 6 | Alexander Bell | Athlete | Port Alberni | Figure Skating |
| Zone 5 | Anthony Lu | Athlete | Vancouver | Figure Skating |
| Zone 3 | Katie Marchbank | Athlete | Abbotsford | Figure Skating |
| Soraya Bellou | Coach | Abbotsford | Figure Skating | |
| Amanda Thomas | Coach | Fort St John | Figure Skating | |
| Kailee Bowman | Head Coach | Victoria | Figure Skating |
For more information, please contact SOBC Sport Coordinator Jean Tetarenko by email or by phone at 250-883-2452 / 1-888-854-2276 toll-free.