EDMONTON, AB, March 22, 2019- The 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games allowed us to Meet The Determined as athletes from around the world played their hearts out in a week full of excitement, comradery, and celebration. Abu Dhabi played host to an incredible World Summer Games that featured over 7000 athletes from over 190 nations competing in 24 individual and team sports.
Team Canada is bringing home 155 medals: 90 gold, 37 silver and 28 bronze and Alberta athletes played a big role in that contributing 27 medals: 18 gold, 7 silver, and 2 bronze. Team Canada athletes from Alberta competed in six summer sports: 10-pin bowling, bocce, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, powerlifting, and swimming.
They represented their country with pride and now it is time to celebrate their achievements!
Team Canada Alberta Athlete Results
Name |
Sport |
Hometown |
Results |
Medals |
Esther Auger |
10-pin Bowling |
Edmonton, AB |
1st Place Women’s Bowling Singles 1st Place Women’s Bowling Doubles 4th Place Women’s Bowling Team |
2 Gold |
Candice Bagan |
Swimming |
Edmonton, AB |
1st Place Swimming Women’s 4x25m Freestyle Relay 8th Place Swimming Women’s 25m Freestyle 8th Place Swimming Women’s 25m Backstroke |
1 Gold |
Connor Bissett |
Swimming |
Whitecourt, AB |
1st Place Swimming Men’s 50m Backstroke 1st Place Swimming Men’s 100m Freestyle 2nd Place Swimming Men’s 4x50m Relay |
2 Gold 1 Silver |
Emma Bittorf |
Golf |
Calgary, AB |
2nd Place Golf Women’s Level 4 Individual Stroke Play |
1 Silver |
Amber Harriman |
Rhythmic Gymnastics |
Calgary, AB |
1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Group Floor Exercise 1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Group Hoop 1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Level 3 Ball 1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Level 3 Hoop 1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Level 3 Ribbon 1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Level 3 Clubs 1st Place Rhythmic Gymnastics Level 3 All Around |
7 Gold |
Mitchell MacDonald |
10-pin Bowling |
Medicine Hat, AB |
1st Place Bowling Men’s Singles 1st Place Bowling Men’s Doubles 5th Place Bowling Team |
2 Gold |
Jordan MacLeod |
Swimming |
Calgary, AB |
1st Place Swimming Women’s 4x50m Freestyle Relay 2nd Place Swimming Women’s 200m Backstroke 4th Place Swimming Women’s 100m Backstroke 5th Place Swimming Women’s 100m Freestyle |
1 Gold 1 Silver |
Mark Mengersen |
10-pin Bowling |
Olds, AB |
2nd Place Bowling Team 3rd Place Bowling Doubles 8th Place Bowling Men’s Singles |
1 Silver 1 Bronze |
Christine Sullivan |
Powerlifting |
Medicine Hat, AB |
2nd Place Powerlifting Women’s Bench Press 2nd Place Powerlifting Women’s Deadlift 3rd Place Powerlifting Women’s Combined 4th Place Powerlifting Women’s Squat |
2 Silver 1 Bronze |
Justin Thompson |
Swimming |
Strathmore, AB |
1st Place Swimming Men’s 25m Freestyle 1st Place Swimming Men’s 25m Backstroke 4th Place Men’s 4x25m Freestyle Relay |
2 Gold |
Nikita Williams |
Bocce |
Edmonton, AB |
1st Place Bocce Singles F31 Division 2nd Place Bocce Doubles F6 Division 4th Place Bocce Team (4 person) Division D5 |
1 Gold 1 Silver |
Our athletes were joined coaches Marie Powell (athletics) and Pat Enns (10-pin bowling) and mission staff Kelly Edwards.
Special Olympics Alberta would like to invite media to welcome our Team Canada members on Saturday, March 23.
- Edmonton: YEG Airport arriving at 9:32 p.m. WS441
Team Canada Members: Esther Auger, Candice Bagan, Connor Bissett, and Nikita Williams
- Calgary: YYC Airport arriving at 9:20 p.m. WS890
Team Canada Members: Emma Bittorf, mission staff Kelly Edwards, coach Pat Enns, Amber Harriman, Mitchell MacDonald, Jordan MacLeod, Mark Mengersen, coach Marie Powell, and Justin Thompson
For full Team Canada results go to https://www.specialolympics.ca/games-events/go-canada-go or the official 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games website: https://www.abudhabi2019.org/. You can find real time results and coverage on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram through hashtags #SOTeamCanada1 and #AbuDhabi2019. You can also find coverage with Special Olympics Alberta @SpecialOAlberta and Special Olympics Canada @SpecialOCanada. Team Canada high resolution photos are available on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/92082000@N03/albums.
For post-world games interview request, please contact Special Olympics Alberta marketing and communications assistant, Kiefer Sutherland ksutherland@specialolympics.ab.ca.
Special Olympics Alberta
Special Olympics Alberta is dedicated to enriching the lives of Albertans with intellectual disabilities through the transformative power and joy of sport. Our vision is that sport will open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create inclusive communities.
Special Olympics Alberta’s programs cater to all ages and a wide range of abilities to over 3,200 athletes in more than 150 communities. We provide world class sports programs that are run daily by over 1,200 volunteers. For more information on Special Olympics Alberta, visit, www.specialolympics.ca/alberta and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, and YouTube.
-30-
Media Contact
Kiefer Sutherland
Marketing and Communications
Special Olympics Alberta
P: 800-444-2883 Ext. 1009