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Games Week
Day 6
Friday 31st July 2009
Day 6
Friday 31st July 2009
FINAL DAY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS GB NATIONAL SUMMER GAMES
Sports Highlights from Day Six:
GYMNASTICS
On hand today to present medals was SOGB Ambassador, Celebrity Fit Club winner and former GMTV presenter Tina Baker resplendent in purple and silver. With a huge smile, whoops, and cheers she greeted each winning athlete with a curtsy and a kiss. She commented, “ Each of the athletes has their own ability level and their own wattage but each and everyone of them shines as brightly as they can. The men were really powerful, the women so very graceful and so much joy! It was my first time at one of the competitions and I am completely sucked-in and inspired.”
A special presentation was made to Lisa Littlemore from the NorthWest region and Ricardo Hamilton from the Southern Region when they were both chosen as the most-winning athletes of the Games – not for the number of medals they won, but for their generous behaviour and smiling demeanour -- embodying the spirit of the Games.
Lee Davidson and Jonathon Mackie were two of the stars of the Gymnastics today. Both are not only best friends and team-mates from Scotland West, but are also on the GB Squad for the British Gymnastics Association’s Disability team. According to their coach, Angela Turner, “ They are two of the top 5 learning disabled gymnasts in the country. Lee was 2 x British Champ and Jonathon is defending Champion at floor and vault.
Jonathon has only been competing for 4 years but won 6 Silvers at the last Special Olympics National Games in Glasgow and went on to tattoo his arm with the Olympic Rings. He said,” I really hope to go to the Olympics in 2012 but for sure I want to compete at our World Summer Games in Athens in 2011.” Lee brought home 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 bronze at the last National Games and hopes to top his medal haul this year!
Also on hand at gymnastics was Games Ambassador Jahmaine Smyle, current holder of the National Title/Light heavyweight division with the Amateur Boxing Association. Smyle was invited on to the England squad for the Olympics but left when he recently turned pro. He said, “I always saw the Special Olympics t-shirts at the sports centres where I work out so I always knew the name but it wasn’t until I was invited to be an Ambassador that I saw what Special Olympics is all about. It seems like a really great programme and it was an honour to present medals today.”
Smyle’s whole family has been involved in SOL2009: his mother helped make the costumes for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, his sister was part of the dance troupe performing, and his 8-yr old brother was a Puffin in the parade. Smyle’s mother, Hyacinth, works as a PA to a severely learning disabled boy and was also unaware that Special Olympics provides free sports training for athletes at all ability levels. “I think this would be a great for him too,” she admitted.
ATHLETICS
As the medal ceremonies concluded at Saffron Lane Sports Centre, the East Midlands athletics team celebrated a very successful week in the competitions. They secured 10 Gold medals, 10 Silver medals and 4 Bronze medals with a team of only 18 athletes.
Coach Linzi Selby is really pleased with how her athletes have competed this week, “This week’s been brilliant; the guys have really enjoyed themselves. There are a few who have been competing in the games since 1989, and we have about 8 who are here for the first time.”
One of the first timers is Andy Bulzacchelli (21), who won 3 Golds in the long jump, 400m and 200m. He said, “This is my first time at a National Games and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been an excellent week.”
Jane Gibson, who has competed three times before, was also pleased with how she did, winning gold in the softball throw and bronze in the 100m walk. “I’ve had a really good week, it’s been extremely enjoyable.”
SWIMMING
The swimming competitions were rounded off with a thrilling 4 x 25m race, with the Eastern team taking home the Golds.
They just finished ahead of Tayside and Eastern Team 2.
The team said, “We’ve trained together for six months, and it took plenty of team work. But it’s crazy to win, it means a lot.”
On hand today to present medals was SOGB Ambassador, Celebrity Fit Club winner and former GMTV presenter Tina Baker resplendent in purple and silver. With a huge smile, whoops, and cheers she greeted each winning athlete with a curtsy and a kiss. She commented, “ Each of the athletes has their own ability level and their own wattage but each and everyone of them shines as brightly as they can. The men were really powerful, the women so very graceful and so much joy! It was my first time at one of the competitions and I am completely sucked-in and inspired.”
A special presentation was made to Lisa Littlemore from the NorthWest region and Ricardo Hamilton from the Southern Region when they were both chosen as the most-winning athletes of the Games – not for the number of medals they won, but for their generous behaviour and smiling demeanour -- embodying the spirit of the Games.
Lee Davidson and Jonathon Mackie were two of the stars of the Gymnastics today. Both are not only best friends and team-mates from Scotland West, but are also on the GB Squad for the British Gymnastics Association’s Disability team. According to their coach, Angela Turner, “ They are two of the top 5 learning disabled gymnasts in the country. Lee was 2 x British Champ and Jonathon is defending Champion at floor and vault.
Jonathon has only been competing for 4 years but won 6 Silvers at the last Special Olympics National Games in Glasgow and went on to tattoo his arm with the Olympic Rings. He said,” I really hope to go to the Olympics in 2012 but for sure I want to compete at our World Summer Games in Athens in 2011.” Lee brought home 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 bronze at the last National Games and hopes to top his medal haul this year!
Also on hand at gymnastics was Games Ambassador Jahmaine Smyle, current holder of the National Title/Light heavyweight division with the Amateur Boxing Association. Smyle was invited on to the England squad for the Olympics but left when he recently turned pro. He said, “I always saw the Special Olympics t-shirts at the sports centres where I work out so I always knew the name but it wasn’t until I was invited to be an Ambassador that I saw what Special Olympics is all about. It seems like a really great programme and it was an honour to present medals today.”
Smyle’s whole family has been involved in SOL2009: his mother helped make the costumes for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, his sister was part of the dance troupe performing, and his 8-yr old brother was a Puffin in the parade. Smyle’s mother, Hyacinth, works as a PA to a severely learning disabled boy and was also unaware that Special Olympics provides free sports training for athletes at all ability levels. “I think this would be a great for him too,” she admitted.
ATHLETICS
As the medal ceremonies concluded at Saffron Lane Sports Centre, the East Midlands athletics team celebrated a very successful week in the competitions. They secured 10 Gold medals, 10 Silver medals and 4 Bronze medals with a team of only 18 athletes.
Coach Linzi Selby is really pleased with how her athletes have competed this week, “This week’s been brilliant; the guys have really enjoyed themselves. There are a few who have been competing in the games since 1989, and we have about 8 who are here for the first time.”
One of the first timers is Andy Bulzacchelli (21), who won 3 Golds in the long jump, 400m and 200m. He said, “This is my first time at a National Games and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been an excellent week.”
Jane Gibson, who has competed three times before, was also pleased with how she did, winning gold in the softball throw and bronze in the 100m walk. “I’ve had a really good week, it’s been extremely enjoyable.”
SWIMMING
The swimming competitions were rounded off with a thrilling 4 x 25m race, with the Eastern team taking home the Golds.
They just finished ahead of Tayside and Eastern Team 2.
The team said, “We’ve trained together for six months, and it took plenty of team work. But it’s crazy to win, it means a lot.”
For all the latest results from the 2009 Special Olympics GB National Summer Games, click here
