Tanner Svenson's Joy is Gold Moment

By Tanner Svenson

My Joy Is Gold moment is about how I went from being a silver medalist at the PA Bocce Tournament in 2024 to becoming a three-time gold medal champion over the last three years with Special Olympics Saskatchewan. Bocce has taught me so much more than just how to play a sport. It has taught me confidence, sportsmanship, discipline, valuable life lessons, and the skills and strategies that have helped me become a better athlete and a better person.

My first gold medal in bocce came at the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster. It was a very special moment for me because I went undefeated with a 9-0 record throughout the tournament. In the final game, I played against Brett Either, a former fellow teammate, and won 10-4 to secure the gold medal. That victory was a moment I will always remember because it showed me what I could accomplish when I believed in myself, stayed focused, and worked hard.

In 2025, I continued my journey at the Special Olympics Saskatchewan Provincial Summer Games in Regina, where I earned my second gold medal with a record of 4-1-1.

I had some great success, but I also learned valuable lessons from the games I lost. I realized that sports are not always about winning. They are also about keeping your head up, staying positive, and never giving up on yourself. Losing a game does not define the athlete you are. What matters is how you respond, learn from your mistakes, and keep moving forward. I stayed strong, kept believing in myself, and finished by winning my final game 7-5 against a tough competitor, Randal Head from Nipawin, to earn another gold medal.

My journey reached a whole new level in 2026 when I was selected to represent Team Saskatchewan at the Special Olympics competition in Medicine Hat. Being selected for Team Saskatchewan for the first time was already a huge honour, but what happened next became one of the greatest achievements of my athletic career. I went undefeated with a 5-0 record, and in the final game, I found myself down by five points.

Instead of giving up, I stayed focused, kept fighting, and believed I could come back. I turned things around and won 12-5 against Trevor Campese from British Columbia, earning my third gold medal. That moment showed me the importance of determination, confidence, and never giving up, even when things seem difficult.

But my experience in Medicine Hat was about more than bocce. I also had the incredible honour of being asked to interview Canada's Governor General, Louise Arbour. At first, I was a little nervous, but as the interview went on, I calmed down and became more confident. I got to ask her about her job, her background, and her conversation with King Charles of the United Kingdom.

It was an amazing experience that helped me grow my confidence and showed me that I could take on new challenges outside of sports, too. I was also interviewed about four times while I was in Medicine Hat, which made the whole experience even more memorable.

Looking back on my bocce journey, I am proud of how far I have come. From learning valuable lessons through competition to winning three gold medals and representing Team Saskatchewan, every experience has helped shape the athlete and person I am today. I have learned that success is not just about medals or winning games. It is about hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, discipline, and believing in yourself, even when things do not go your way.

My journey has taught me to keep pushing forward, stay humble, learn from every experience, and never give up on my dreams. I am proud of everything I have accomplished so far, and I know there is still more to come.

My Joy Is Gold moment is not just about winning three gold medals. It is about the journey, the lessons, the people I have met, the confidence I have gained, and the memories I will carry with me forever.