New Zealand athletes bring back medals from Winter Games

24 March 2017 For immediate release

Media release:

New Zealand athletes bring back medals from World Winter Games

A group of New Zealand athletes with intellectual disabilities will return from the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games on Monday 27 March, with a haul of medals. The 13 athletes won 18 medals between them and all achieved personal best results, impressive when the athletes were only able to enter a total of two events each.

The group of athletes has been competing alongside more than 2,600 Special Olympics athletes from over 105 countries at the Games in Graz Austria. The Games and is the largest sporting event in the world to be held in 2017.

Special Olympics New Zealand Chief Executive Kathy Gibson said not only did the athletes impress with their sporting performance, but also with their courage and commitment.

"All of our athletes have achieved personal best performances at the Games; in 2013 athletes were able to enter into three events each, that team also returned with 18 medals. For our 2017 team to return with the same tally from fewer events is outstanding. They have also shown extraordinary bravery when things didn’t go to plan. We had one athlete lose a ski on course and complete the race on one ski, and one had a fall but got her ski back on and finished the race,” Ms Gibson said.

"The Special Olympics New Zealand community is extremely proud of our athletes for all of their hard work and achievements, and we look forward to welcoming them home."

The supporting team of seven managers and coaches, led by Head of Delegation Brian Benn, has also put in a huge effort to support the New Zealand athletes.

"For some of our athletes this has been their first overseas trip, which has been a great opportunity but also a huge challenge, especially in a country where English is not the first language,” Ms Gibson said.

"Our management and coaching staff have done an amazing job of supporting our athletes to perform at their best, not only at the Games, but in their lengthy training and preparations."

Media are invited to welcome the athletes home at Auckland International Airport.

DATE: Monday 27 March

TIME: 11.10am (flight arrival time)

VENUE: Auckland International Airport

ENDS

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