ANTIGONISH, N.S. – Special Olympics P.E.I. had successful debuts in two sports at the Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S.
“Similar to rhythmic gymnastics, this is the first National Summer Games that P.E.I. has put forth a bocce team,” explained P.E.I. chef de mission Matthew McNally. “The program was grown and developed in Charlottetown by (head coach) Carole Ann French, who four years ago or so started the program with five or six athletes.
“In Charlottetown now, there are over 30 (bocce) athletes a week attending. It has also spread to other areas, like Summerside, Alberton and Montague. We are really pleased to see the development of the sport, and for them to be here at these National Games and perform extraordinarily well, and because of that be rewarded on the podium, is even better.”
P.E.I. athletes won three medals in bocce during Saturday’s final day of competition. Jennifer Hickox of Charlottetown defeated Janet Charchuk of Alberton 12-6 in an all-P.E.I. final match in the Female Two Division.
“It was very surprising,” said Hickox, who won her first gold medal at a National Games. “I tried my best, worked very hard and I had good coaching. It was an amazing feeling.”
Charchuk said she felt “pretty proud” of her silver-medal performance, and noted it was special to play Hickox in the final.
“She’s a pretty good friend,” added Charchuk, who won a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.
“I had lots of fun, and did get to meet some people that I was with in Austria with Team Canada,” said Charchuk.
Click here for related story on Jennifer Hickox:
Click here for story with P.E.I. chef de mission Matthew McNally reflecting on Team P.E.I.'s week:
Rick Chan of Charlottetown won his gold-medal final 12-6 in the Male Seven Division.
“It was amazing,” said Chan in describing the experience during a phone interview with the Journal Pioneer on Sunday. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a gold medal.’
“I was surprised I got it and it felt good.”
Click here for story on soccer and softball teams enjoying success:
The other Team P.E.I. bocce member, Tommy Ling, also of Charlottetown, lost 12-3 in the bronze-medal contest in the Male Seven Division.
“It was a good experience,” commented Ling. “The first day I joined it was pretty awesome. I enjoy it and it’s fun. It’s a little bit like lawn bowling.”
Click here for story on Team P.E.I. powerlifter Kolton Doucette winning four medals:
Rhythmic gymnastics
Rachael Loggie of Charlottetown was P.E.I.’s lone athlete in rhythmic gymnastics.
“It takes an amazing talent to memorize the routine and perform to music on the mats,” said McNally. “Rachael did a phenomenal job.”
Friday, Loggie competed in a group routine with Nova Scotia and won bronze. Saturday, Loggie competed in individual events – ball, rope, hoop and ribbon.
“She wasn’t in medal contention for any of those (individual events), but after speaking with Coach Sarah (Profitt), who started up the rhythmic program a few years ago with just a few girls and it’s really grown, she commented how proud she was of Rachel’s technical abilities out on the mat, and how far she has come and developed over the course of her training. She’s really proud of her results, and some were her personal bests.”
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Click here for Team P.E.I. winning medals on Day 1 of competition:
Click here for Team P.E.I. swimmer Roy Paynter adding to his medal haul:
Records
Overall records for P.E.I. bocce athletes:
W L T
Jennifer Hickox 5 1 0
Rick Chan 4 1 0
Jennifer Charchuk 3 2 1
Tommy Ling 1 4 0
