Athletes from the Redland Special Olympics brought home a swag of medals after competition in the Special Olympics national games, held in Adelaide in April.
Winning medals was Lachlan Mackay in swimming, gaining a gold in 50m freestyle relay and 50m freestyle and silver in 100m freestyle. Patrick O’Brien also gained three gold medals in the four by 50m medley relay, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
Brendan Berger brought home a gold in golf for single stroke play and Matthew Burge gained gold as a member of the A grade Gold Medal basketball team.
Team coordinator Hugh Mackay said 27 athletes represented the club to compete in various sports including swimming, Ten Pin Bowling, bocce, golf, tennis and basketball. Training occurs for basketball at Redlands College, for swimming at the Clem Jones centre, for bocce at the Redland Sporting Club, golf at Wynnum and for Ten Pin Bowling at Capalaba.
“Our Redland representatives all went exceptionally well and the majority of participants brought home a medal of some kind, whether it be first, second, third and even fourth,” Mr Mackay said.
Team members also recorded personal best performances. From this, teams will be chosen to represent Australia at the World Games to be held in Abu Dhabi in May 2019.
Special Olympics is a world wide organisation that allows people with an intellectual disability to achieve their personal best through sport. Special Olympics Redlands Club is an accredited Special Olympics Australia Sub Program.
“Our mission is to provide year-round sport training and competition in a variety of sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, giving them the opportunity to continuously improve and develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and create lifelong friendships. Special Olympics shifts the focus from disability to ability,” Mr Mackay said.
The next competition for the team is a basketball tournament for Queensland regional teams in Runaway Bay on June 16.
