St. Maarten's Special Olympians copped eleven medals including three gold, three silver and five bronze at the just-concluded Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
Several athletes also secured top ten spots in their respective categories. The proud athletes returned to St. Maarten on Tuesday.
The games ran from June 25 – July 4. Athletes were drawn from the Prins Willem Alexander School for Special Education (PWAS), Sr. Basilia Center and St. Maarten Vocational Training School. They participated in three of the 24 areas: track and field (racing, shot put and long jump), swimming and bocce.
Representing St. Maarten in track and field were Linda Richardson and Milinda Rogers from the Sr. Basilia Center; Katiana Pierre and Joseph Fidanque from Prins Willem Alexander School and Stefano Gordon and Jivana Claxton from the St. Maarten Vocational Training School. Willemijn Verloop and Roger Jeffers of the Sr. Basilia Center and Jivanta Claxton and Nathan Mollineau from the Prins Willem Alexander School (PWAS) competed in swimming while Albert Arrindell from the Sr. Basilia Center competed in bocce.
Athletes were accompanied by five coaches (Les Brown, , Antroy Cleghorn, Isha Marlin and Debby Rombley), Head of Delegation (HOD) Special Olympics Foundation St. Maarten(SOSM) Secretary Loyola Seymonson and one Assistant Head of Delegation (Asst. HOD) Greta Mathew.
An estimated 7,500 Special Olympics Athletes from 185 nations competed in 22 Olympic-type sports at the international event. The games are held every four years in a different nation.
ther members of the St. Maarten Special Olympics Board are: Lisandra Havertong (Treasurer and Vice President); Les Brown (Sports Director); Loyola Seymonson (Secretary); Joycelyn Patrick (Parent liaison); Willemijn Verloop (Athlete representative); Brigitte Halley (Prins Willem Alexander School Coordinator) and Greta Mathew (Sr. Basilia Center Coordinator.
Below is a listing of the medals won by the athletes:
Female athletes:
Katiana Pierre: Short put + Speed walk Gold
Linda Richardson: Long jump Bronze+ 100 meter 4th place
Milinda Rogers: Speed walk Silver
Jivana Claxton: Long jump Gold + 100 meter 6th place
Jivanta Claxton: Freestyle Bronze + Breaststroke 5th place
Willemijn Verloop: Breaststroke 5th place +7th place Freestyle
Male:
Roger Jeffers: Breaststroke Silver
Joseph Fidanque: 100meter 4th place +5th place 200 meter
Nathan Mollineau: Breaststroke Silver + freestyle Bronze
Stefano Gordon: Long jump 6th +4th 100 meter
Albert Arrindell: Bocce Bronze
Total:
3 Gold
3 Silver
5 Bronze
3 4th place
4 5th place
2 6th place
