The cauldron is lit and competition is officially underway in Medicine Hat. Softball got an early start on Tuesday with plenty of action on the diamond, and today the Games shifted into high gear — seven sports in action, rain or shine, and the first medals of the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games up for grabs.
And Team Ontario delivered. By the end of the day we'd brought home 22 gold, 14 silver, and 15 bronze — 51 medals in total— led by a huge day in the pool, a strong showing on the bowling lanes, and standout individual performances across Athletics. A few results worth knowing before we even get to the medal count: two sets of Ontario twins faced off against each other on the same basketball court, our golfers played through a downpour with more grace than the weather deserved, and one of our swimmers stood on top of the podium less than a year after setting out to change her life.
Rain, Rings, and Ontario vs. Ontario
It poured for a good stretch of today — the kind of rain that soaks through everything and turns a golf course into a squishy green mess — but it didn't slow anyone down. If anything, competitors leaned into it: soccer players found the wet turf made for easier slides and got right into it, and more than one Athletics coach swore the track times were faster than usual, like the rain gave everyone an extra reason to just get the run faster.
Today was also a big one for Ontario-on-Ontario basketball. Our Guelph Gryphons Team 1 and Team 2 played each other in the same division here in Medicine Hat — and it wasn't just any matchup. Two sets of twins suited up on opposite sides of the court: siblings Morgan Fay and Letisha Fay, and brothers Sheldon Riley and Nathan Riley. Gryphons 1 came out on top, 65–24, but with twins facing off across the paint, everybody in that gym was already a winner.
Basketball had drama elsewhere too — one Ontario team fell behind by 13 points, clawed all the way back to a 5-point lead, and the game ended up tied. That's the kind of back-and-forth that makes you lose your voice cheering.
And in soccer, our Brampton squad was getting outplayed by Team Saskatchewan in a competitive game — but never retaliated, never let the frustration take over, just kept playing their game. That's Team Ontario.
First Medals of the Games
Tenpin Bowling, Swimming, and Athletics all crowned their first champions of these Games today, and Team Ontario made sure we were part of that history in every one of them.
In Tenpin, 7 of our 10 teams medaled today, including Ontario's first gold medal of the Games — four golds, two silvers, and a bronze across the six team divisions. Doubles and Singles competition continue Thursday and Friday, so more results are still to come.
Swimming was where Team Ontario truly showed up — 34 medals in the pool today, more than two-thirds of our total. Zoe Barnes won gold in the 1500M Freestyle, a 60-lap, 30-minute race that tests everything an athlete has. And Amiera Black touched the wall first to win the first individual gold medal of the Games for Team Ontario. She shared what stuck with her most about her Special Olympics journey:
“One of my proudest moments was at my very first Special Olympics swim meet. I swam the 100 IM against a single male swimmer. I was 9 years old and very little, and he was 36 and very big. I was scared, but I swam my best race and beat him. The entire crowd cheered, he shook my hand and told me he was proud of me — and I was proud of me too.”
Athletics hit the track for the first time today too, and Meghan Josling led the way with gold in the 10,000M — with teammates Annick Leger and Brian Knechtel rounding out the podium in bronze in the same event, across separate divisions.
On the Course: Golf in the Rain
Golf might have had the toughest conditions of anyone today — pouring rain, soaked greens, cold hands — and they still found ways to laugh through it. Mission staff Karen and Jason stepped in as caddies for golfers, Ray and Jack, who needed a substitute, and Ray spent more time worrying about keeping his caddie dry than himself.
Ray stopped to thank every single volunteer he passed — rain and all. Before his dad passed away, he instilled in Ray that you always thank the volunteers, because none of this happens without them. Even soaked to the bone, Ray made sure every volunteer he met left with a smile.
The caddying continues tomorrow with SOO's own Director of Sport, Johnny, and mission staff member Kyle stepping in, and on Friday, SOO CEO Cody Jansma is up on the bag.
Health and Wellness on the Ground
Team Ontario's Health Messenger, Val — an athlete and member of our mission staff — has been recording a health tip for the team every single day, with posters up in every hotel and videos posted daily on our socials. Be sure to follow along for her tips throughout the Games.
Mission staff member Peggy also ran health education sessions today with athletes from Bocce, Tenpin Bowling, Athletics, Golf, and Basketball — another reminder that Team Ontario takes care of the whole athlete, on and off the field of play.
Looking Ahead
Powerlifting steps onto the platform for the first time tomorrow, and after today's medal haul, the rest of the team will be looking to keep the momentum going. Let's go, Team Ontario!