Team Saskatchewan Shines at Special Olympics Canada Summer Games

Team Saskatchewan returned home from the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games with plenty to celebrate — including medals, personal bests, new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Throughout an unforgettable week of competition, Team Saskatchewan athletes demonstrated determination, sportsmanship and pride while competing on the national stage. Across multiple sports, athletes achieved personal bests, reached new competitive milestones and celebrated the results of months of training and preparation. Their outstanding performances helped Team Saskatchewan return home with an incredible 63 medals (24 gold, 19 silver, and 20 bronze) and a fifth-place overall finish nationally.

One memorable moment of the Games came during the spectacular Opening Ceremonies. Athletes from across Canada gathered in celebration as members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) carried and lit the Special Olympics Flame of Hope, marking the official start of the competition. The ceremony showcased the spirit of inclusion, unity, and empowerment that defines the Special Olympics movement. An exciting moment of the Games came on the golf course when Regina's Taylor Carter recorded a spectacular hole-in-one on the 16th hole at the Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club during the final round of competition. Another unforgettable highlight came from Prince Albert's Tanner Svenson, who not only captured a gold medal in bocce but also had the unique opportunity to interview Governor General Louise Arbour during the Games. A sports broadcaster, Tanner described the experience as one of the most incredible moments of his life.

Another memorable Games experience came from rhythmic gymnast Dylan Dovell, who competed at his second National Games and earned gold medals in Rings, Rope, Sticks, Clubs, and All Around. Reflecting on his experience in Medicine Hat, Dovell said, “the experience I had in Medicine Hat was fantastic.”

For Dovell, representing Saskatchewan was another highlight of the Games. “I'm so happy to represent Team Saskatchewan,” he said, adding that it was meaningful “to win gold medals not only for myself but for the rest of Saskatchewan and to make Team Saskatchewan and my family proud.”

Dovell also highlighted the camaraderie among athletes, saying, “I enjoy how we came together to compete. And to compete against difference provinces.” Reflecting on the people who helped him reach the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, he added a special shoutout “to my family, my relatives in Medicine Hat, to Sarah (his coach), to SOS staff and volunteers and to all coaches that got me to nationals.”

Team Saskatchewan Medal Winners

The following athletes and teams earned podium finishes at the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games:

• Blake Morris – Athletics — Gold Shot Put (Pan-Canadian), Bronze 400m

• Bradyn Giraudier – Athletics — Gold Shot Put (Pan-Canadian), Silver 100m (Pan-Canadian), Silver 200m (Pan-Canadian), Silver 400m (Pan-Canadian), Silver Running Long Jump (Pan-Canadian)

• Kyle Giraudier – Athletics — Bronze 200m (Pan-Canadian), Silver Running Long Jump, Bronze 400m

• Brandon Wood – Golf — Silver

• Ryan Michel – Golf — Bronze

• Taylor Carter – Golf — Gold

• Chelzee Proctor – Bocce — Bronze

• Cody Gusikoski – Bocce — Silver

• Tanner Svenson – Bocce — Gold

• Aaron Higgins – Powerlifting — Silver Bench Press, Silver Squat, Silver All Around

• Annalise Brown – Powerlifting — Gold Bench Press, Gold Deadlift, Gold Squat, Gold All Around

• Liam Bonnell – Powerlifting — Gold Squat, Bronze Bench Press, Bronze Deadlift, Bronze All Around

• Dylan Dovell – Rhythmic Gymnastics — Gold Rings, Gold Rope, Gold Sticks, Gold Clubs, Gold All Around

• Jordan Blomme – Rhythmic Gymnastics — Gold Rope, Gold All Around, Gold Ball, Silver Mixed Apparatus, Silver Ribbon

• Victoria Sarty – Rhythmic Gymnastics — Gold Ribbon, Silver Rope, Bronze All Around, Bronze Mixed Apparatus, Bronze Ball

• Lindsay Reimer – Swimming — Gold 400m Freestyle (Pan-Canadian), Gold 100m Freestyle, Silver 100m Breaststroke

• Michael Qing – Swimming — Silver 50m Freestyle, Silver 50m Backstroke, Bronze 100m Individual Medley

• Sam Fisher – Swimming — Gold 50m Butterfly, Silver 200m Backstroke, Silver 100m Freestyle, Bronze 200m Freestyle

• Tate Zimmerman – Swimming — Silver 100m Backstroke, Silver 50m Breaststroke, Silver 200m Breaststroke, Bronze 100m Individual Medley, Bronze 200m Freestyle

• Tyler Servant – Swimming — Gold 50m Butterfly, Silver 25m Butterfly (Pan-Canadian), Silver 200m Freestyle, Bronze 200m Backstroke

• Dawn Rieben – Ten-Pin Bowling — Bronze All Event

• Jonathon Panchuk – Ten-Pin Bowling — Gold Singles, Gold All Event

• Max Redekop – Ten-Pin Bowling — Bronze Singles, Bronze All Event

• Tracey Wolfram – Ten-Pin Bowling — Bronze Singles

• Allison Lach & Max Redekop – Ten-Pin Bowling, Doubles Division 5 — Silver

• Dawn Rieben & Tracey Wolfram – Ten-Pin Bowling, Doubles Division 8 — Gold

• Ian James Cushon & Jonathon Panchuk – Ten-Pin Bowling, Doubles Division 2 — Gold

• Team Saskatchewan Basketball – Mavericks Division — Bronze

• Team Saskatchewan Soccer – Tigers Division — Gold

The success of Team Saskatchewan was made possible through the dedication of coaches, mission staff, volunteers, families, supporters, sponsors, and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, whose ongoing commitment helps create life-changing opportunities for Special Olympics athletes.

“These Games were about so much more than medals. We celebrated personal bests, new milestones and incredible achievements, but most importantly, we saw our athletes show what is possible when they are given the opportunity to compete, belong and succeed.” said Rhae-Ann Holoien, Executive Director.

As the athletes returned home, they brought with them not only medals and personal bests, but also greater confidence, new friendships, and unforgettable memories from a remarkable national competition.

Special Olympics Saskatchewan would like to extend congratulations to every member of Team Saskatchewan on an outstanding National Summer Games experience.