Special Olympics Alberta Bow Valley cross-country skiers took home 12 gold medals at a recent provincial competition in Strathcona County – and they did it with just four skiers from Cochrane and Canmore racing in three events.
It was the third highest gold medal count for any one area of the province, other than Calgary and Edmonton.
It all happened at the Special Olympics Alberta Provincial Winter Games, from Feb. 24 to 26, at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre in Sherwood Park. The competition doubled as a provincial qualifier for the Special Olympics Canada national championships, which will be held in Calgary next February.
Brock Jesse won gold medals in the 2.5-kilometre (km) freestyle, as well as the 5-km freestyle, and 7.5-km freestyle.
Elouise Stewart also won three gold medals, in the 5-km freestyle, 7.5-km classic, and 10-km classic.
Shane Stewart (no relation to Elouise) won gold in the 5-km classic, 7.5-km classic, and 10-km classic.
And team rookie Kieran Pothier from Canmore won gold in the 100-m classic, 500-m classic, and 1-km classic.
The other three skiers from Cochrane have been to multiple provincial and national games. Shane Stewart and Elouise Stewart have also been to multiple world games.
Coach Shawn Jesse said they were all surprised at the 12 golds, but he was impressed with Pothier’s performance in particular.
“We weren’t expecting what we got. And Kieran, this was his first games, so we’re really happy,” Jesse said.
Pothier was pretty excited himself.
“He had a smile on his face that was continuous after the event,” Jesse said. “They were all pretty happy.”
Jesse added that the snow conditions were ideal, with the competition taking place after a heavy snowfall, and everything else just fell into place.
Jesse was taking part in the Calgary Special Olympics program six years ago when they decided to get a Bow Valley chapter up and running closer to home in Cochrane. The team trains at the Canmore Nordic Centre.
The next ski meet will be in Calgary in 2024. Athletes that do well enough there will be eligible to go on to the world championships in 2025.
Jesse said each of the athletes gets something unique out of the program.
“Some athletes are really competitive, really chasing that aspect, and for some it’s more (about) learning a new skill,” he explained.
“For me, it’s working with the athletes to get to where they want to go, to help them on the progression they want to take.”
Going to nationals next year, which Jesse has done a few times, is especially rewarding.
“It’s exciting – these events are incredible. These athletes are competing with others with developmental disabilities, and they develop a lot of friendships with teams from other provinces,” he said.
“It’s inspirational, is what it is.”
Jesse’s wife Lynda, the local community coordinator, was also moved by the athletes’ efforts.
“The connections they make and the way they shine is magical,” she said.
“Our athletes teach us something every day about the joy of sport, inclusion and what is possible if everyone is given a chance to participate and succeed. We are much more than sport, we are a social movement.”
