Michaela Samsonoff and Danielle Cavenaile brought some prized souvenirs back from the Special Olympics National Summer Games.
The two rhythmic gymnasts from Prince George competed at the Games last weekend in Antigonish, N.S., and claimed medals for Team B.C. Samsonoff (Level 3) won gold in ball and ribbon and finished second overall in her division. Cavenaile, also a Level 3 athlete, earned a bronze medal in clubs. She was making her first appearance at the national event.
A third Prince George gymnast, Darcie Muzychka, also qualified for nationals but, against tough competition in Level 4, did not make it to the medal podium.
Samsonoff, Cavenaile and Muzychka competed at regional and then provincial meets to get to nationals. In Antigonish, they were part of a 15-member rhythmic gymnastics B.C. team.
Participants from across Canada competed in nine sports at the Games. A total of 900 athletes with intellectual disabilities attended the event.
The 2019 Special Olympics World Games will be held in Abu Dhabi.
