From March 8 to 15, athletes from Special Olympics Team Canada 2025 showed amazing skill, determination, and heart in their performances at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy. Throughout this journey, dedicated coaches and mission staff provided incredible support every step of the way.
"Being a part of Special Olympics Team Canada means being able to showcase my talents to the world and being an example for the next generation of athletes,” Special Olympics BC – Quesnel snowshoer Cory Melnychuk says, making his first World Games appearance after being involved with Special Olympics for 27 years. “Having an intellectual disability is not an obstacle, but instead it’s an opportunity to be involved in a great program for sports."
In total, Special Olympics Team Canada earned 116 medals – 39 gold, 35 silver, and 42 bronze. Special Olympics BC athletes contributed 29 medals to this number!
Hailing from Special Olympics BC – Golden, cross country skiing athlete Sebastian Gylander lived up to his community’s name and captured two gold medals in the 7.5km Free Technique M01 and the 4x1k relay D02.
He not only finished with a quick time, but surpassed his goals, achieved a personal best, and made connections along the way.
“What I like best about Special Olympics are the friendships with the other athletes, and when we all wear the same uniform for Special Olympics Team Canada," Gylander says.
On the last day of competition, Gylander and every B.C. athlete from Special Olympics Team Canada’s cross country team – Chantal Chan, Francis Stanley, Kelsey Wyse, Layne Benoit, and Tracey Melesko – earned a gold medal in their respective 4x1k relays. We are so proud of their efforts in all their races!
Special Olympics Team Canada snowshoers from B.C. also put in incredible showings. Ariel Taylor, Cory Melnychuk, Danielle Pechet, and Tony Wilkinson gave it their all on the course.
“Oh my gosh, she just raced her first race, and I couldn’t be more proud,” says Debbie, mother to athlete Danielle Pechet, with tears streaming down her face. “I can’t believe this is happening for her. Special Olympics has changed my daughter’s life so much. The love, the family we all feel—it’s beautiful. It’s surreal, I think, for her, because she’s never had an opportunity like this.”
But what moved Debbie most wasn’t just her daughter’s athletic performance—it was her perspective. “She said the hardest thing has been being away from her family,” Debbie shared. “But do you know what her comeback was? She said that she can just lean on her Special Olympics family. How beautiful is that?”
Watch another powerful family story featuring Special Olympics BC – Kelowna’s Tony, Ty, and David Wilkinson of Special Olympics Team Canada!
Amazingly, every B.C. alpine skier that competed at the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games qualified for Special Olympics Team Canada to compete at the 2025 World Games. Athletes Cory Duhaime, Erin Thom, Fiona Hall, Jesse Jensen, Kailyn Potomak, Kirsten Haden, Ron Greenhorn, and Yorke Parkin gave it their all.
"It makes me very proud, and I feel very lucky, to be given the chance to ski for Canada,” Duhaime says. “My goal for Turin [was] to be 100 per cent ready to ski my best races ever when I step into the starting gate.”
Duhaime delivered on his goal, giving amazing efforts on the course. His performance earned him two golds and one silver medal!
“Working with coaches helps me learn, working together with teammates makes it fun,” he says.
“We are so proud of him, he’s worked so hard for so long and overcome so much to get here,” Duhaime’s father Michael said. “It really is a dream come true for us all. We are so grateful to Special Olympics British Columbia and Special Olympics Canada for providing him with this opportunity to show us all what he can accomplish. It reminds us that the word ‘disability’ has ‘ability’ in it, and it’s important that we all recognize and find ways to allow that ability to shine.”
Figure skaters delivered stunning routines, with each B.C. member of the team — Alexander Pang, Marc Theriault, and Matthew Lai — taking home a medal.
“We can achieve our goals if we know how and work hard on them,” Lai says.
Throughout the World Games, Lai formed connections and won over the crowd with his signature smile. A young boy named Fergus was among the fans cheering for Lai during the preliminaries, sharing a special moment through the rink's glass.
Later, Fergus had the incredible chance to meet Matthew in person, capturing a photo and enjoying a memorable experience together.
These powerful moments are what Special Olympics World Games are all about— inclusion, unity, and inspiring a new generation through sport.
Thank you Annabel Stanley, David Wilkinson, Donna Bilous, Jessica Chapelski, Les Sigal, Mark Schnurr, Maureen Hunter, Misty Pagliaro, Saige Beaumont, Tina Giesbrecht, and Ty Wilkinson for being wonderful coaches and inspiring our athletes. Thank you as well to mission staff Juli Prokopchuk Brattan and Krissy Krnasty. Congratulations for a job well done!
“It is always an honor to represent your country on the world stage. I am so proud of Special Olympics Team Canada, not only for the successes they had on the field of play, but for the sportsmanship they displayed, their kindness to others, and the appreciation shown to the many volunteers who made the Special Olympics World Games possible,” Bilous said. In addition to her coaching leadership, Bilous is the valued volunteer Chair of the Special Olympics BC Leadership Council.
“Special Olympics BC was well represented on Special Olympics Team Canada. SOBC can be proud of the continued support they provide for our athletes and coaches to reach the world stage and the success they displayed on and off the field of play. We are grateful.”
Congratulations and thanks to all athletes, coaches, and mission staff that participated in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games and made it a competition to remember!
Read more stories about Special Olympics Team Canada members from B.C.:
Yorke Parkin and Saige Beaumont
Off the fields of play, the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games hosted powerful Healthy Athletes screenings to help athletes uncover issues and direct them to necessary care. SO Team Canada figure skater Alexander Pang of Vancouver is also a Special Olympics Health Messenger, and he spoke about how Healthy Athletes helped him succeed in his sport and reach his fourth World Games.