Speed skating athletes pose for a photo after a team building exercise.

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.