SO Team Canada basketball player Vidal Scarlette is bringing home a lot more than a bronze medal from the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.

He’s also coming home with the ability to hear.

Born deaf, Scarlette has always lived with hearing aids. The only pair he had broke in 2017 and he couldn’t afford to replace them. He’s been relying on sign language and lip reading.

While at World Games, he visited Healthy Athletes – a Special Olympics program that provides medical screenings for athletes, including hearing tests.

Doctors on site equipped him with two new hearing aids and the promise to replace any parts free of charge in future.

“It makes me feel comfortable when I can hear people - I feel a lot better,” Scarlette said. “It makes me happy.”

His coach, Camille Gardiner immediately noticed a change in Scarlette – not just in his performance on the court, but also in his positivity.

“The attitude overall – that directly translates into the game,” said Gardiner, who learned some sign language to better communicate with Scarlette.

The basketball team played their final game against Team USA Tuesday. While they lost 35-19, the SO Team Canada basketball players will return home with a bronze medal.