The Yukon’s Special Olympians are bringing home the hardware following the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary.
The games were held from Feb. 27 to March 2.
The territory finished the games with 13 medals, coming in 11th of the 12 regions participating in the games. The Northwest Territories came in behind the Yukon, finishing with three medals.
Nunavut was the only province or territory in the country not to have a team.
In total, the Yukon finished the games with six gold medals, six silver and one bronze.
Darby ‘Padraig’ McIntyre and Owen Munroe kicked off the medal count for the Yukon, each taking a gold in their divisions of the five-kilometre cross-country ski early in the games. Each of them would go on to see the podium again, with both McIntyre and Munroe earning another gold in their division’s 10 kilometre and silver in the 7.5 kilometre.
The territory’s other skier, Ernest Chua, also made his way to the podium taking a silver in his division’s 2.5 kilometre race and bronze in the 1 kilometre. Chua just missed the podium in the 500-metre classic, coming in fourth.
Figure skater Mike Sumner finished his events with a silver in his division of men’s figure skating.
Meanwhile, the territory’s curling team finished fourth in its division, while the bowling team ended the games in sixth place of team play for Prairie-Winds division behind Manitoba and ahead of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In singles bowling, the Yukon’s Bobbi-Rae Patchett and Mallory Pagage each earned a gold medal in competition while Gracie Ryckman and Duncan McRae each brought home a silver.
The games ended with Ontario at the top of the medal count with 195 medals in total. Following Ontario was British Columbia with 102, Alberta with 66, Manitoba with 56, Quebec with 51, Nova Scotia with 27, Newfoundland and Labrador with 26, Saskatchewan with 26, New Brunswick with 22 and Prince Edward Island with 20.
The competition drew 1,250 athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff from across the country to compete in eight sports.
In a March 5 statement, Premier Ranj Pillai and Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn praised the Yukon athletes for their efforts at the games.
“We are so immensely proud of these athletes for their contributions to Yukon’s sports community,” the statement reads. “They constantly make us all proud with their determination, spirit and accomplishments.
“Competing in curling, figure skating, five pin-bowling and cross-country skiing, the athletes saw great success in their respective sports. Collectively, the team brought home 13 medals. That’s a Special Olympics Yukon record.
“Whether they made the podium or not, every one of our Special Olympics athletes did their best and were amazing ambassadors for the Yukon.
“We would also like to extend our gratitude to the coaches, mission staff and volunteers. Thank you for your dedication to the Special Olympics athletes.
“We couldn’t be happier for you. Congratulations to all.”
Contact Stephanie Waddell at stephanie.waddell@yukon-news.com