Peterborough Special Olympics Athletes Bring Home 24 Medals At Canada Summer Games In Medicine Hat

Peterborough Special Olympics athletes were covered in hardware, bringing home 24 medals while representing Team Ontario at the Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat, Alb., from Aug. 11 to 15.

Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Ontario.

The Peterborough Special Olympians at the event were: Tessa Scates, Breanne MacKenzie, Steve Caban, Michael Brioux, Kristen Lackey, Miriam McHugh, Candace Bushie, Gillian McHugh, Hayley Fowler, Gaerrisen Freeland, Blair Bastien, Dalton Davis and Dylan Armstrong.

They competed in events such as bocce ball, 10-pin bowling, soccer, swimming and track and field. Peterborough combined for 14 gold, five silver and five bronze medals.

“The athletes represented Peterborough, their families, their coaches and Team Ontario with tremendous pride,” said Debbie Quinlan, swimming head coach. “Their accomplishments on and off the field, pool and court are something our entire community can celebrate.”

The following are the results of Peterborough’s Special Olympics Athletes:

• Athletics (Track and Field)

  • Gaerrisen Freeland: Two Gold and two Bronze Medals

• Basketball

  • Blair Bastien: Finalist playing for Guelph Mixed

• Bocce ball (Coach Al Brioux)

  • Dalton Davis: One Gold Medal

• Bowling (10 pin)

  • Mike Brioux: Three Gold, one Silver Medal

• Men's Soccer

  • Dylan Armstrong: One Silver Medal (Playing for Brampton team)

• Women's soccer (Coach Bill Chapman)

  • Candace Bushie, Haley Fowler, Gillian McHugh, Miriam McHugh Kristin Lackey, (combined Ontario/Quebec team): Gold Medal

• Swimming (Coach Debbie Quinlan)

  • Tessa Scates: Two Gold Medals, one Silver Medal and one Bronze Medal

  • Breanne McKenzie: One Gold Medal, one Silver Medal and two Bronze Medals

  • Steve Caban: One Silver Medal

“I had so much fun and it was nice to play with six Québec players and five from Peterborough,” said Jillian McHugh.

“My overall experience went well. The volunteers were awesome and I also made new friends,” said Michael Brioux. “The sportsmanship from all the athletes was amazing, (with) everyone helping out. Plus, all the volunteers that they had helping out at the games were great and without them, I don’t think it could have happened. All of our coaches were great and helped us through the experience of playing in a National Games experience.”

The games in Medicine Hat were the first time the event was held in Canada since 2018, in Antigonish, N.S.

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