The 2025 Canada Games held in August in St. John's provided a unique opportunity for two sets of Special Olympics athletes from Ontario. SOO saw four swimmers make appearances as part of the Team Ontario swimming squad in week one, while our five athletics athletes took to the track in week two.
In the pool, we had very consistent results with top five and top ten finishes among our athletes:
- Antonio Fricano, Hamilton: four 5th place finishes (50 & 100m Freestyle; 50 & 100m Backstroke) and 11th in 50m Breastroke
- Timothy Billington, Burlington: two 9th place finishes (50m Backstroke, 50m Breastroke) and two 10th place finishes (50 & 100m Freestyle)
- Angelina Guttman, Halton Hills: two 4th place finishes (50m Freestyle & 100m Backstroke), 5th place in 50m Backstroke and 9th place in 50m Breastroke
- Emily Skulj, St. Catharines: Two 5th place finishes (100m Freestyle, 50m Breastroke), 6th in 100m Backstroke, and two 10th place finishes (50m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke)
Congratulations! The team extends appreciation to Team Ontario and Swim Ontario for the support received before and during Canada Games. Coach Michele Brenning of Ottawa was instrumental in preparing the team for the Games, and Participant Assistant Guttman of Halton Hills provided support to all the athletes throughout the week.
On the track, more consistent results saw all athletes land within the top ten, including all three female athletes, and both male athletes, competing in the medal final in their 200m events:
- Ashley Hughes, West Niagara: 9th in the 100m (1st in the consolation final) and 5th in the 200m
- Riley Bell, Near North: 1st in the 100m, 2nd in the 200m
- Lena Kanchan, Kitchener-Waterloo: 7th in the 100m, 7th in the 200m
- Jacob Potts, Brantford: 10th in the 100 (2nd in the consolation final), 6th in the 200m
- Rourke Martin, Kitchener-Waterloo: 4th in the 100m, 4th in the 200m
Well done to each of these athletes! Thanks are extended to the team management with Athletics Ontario for helping organize the Team Ontario experience. Coach Jake Jones of Brantford showed great commitment with his involvement and guidance with this team before and during the Games. The team appreciates the support provided by Participant Assistant Kristin Bell of Near North.