Canmore’s long tradition of Olympic medal winners continued in Pyeongchang, South Korea, when cross-country skier Shane Stewart and figure skater Meg Ohsada both medalled at the Special Olympics World Winter Games this past weekend (Feb. 2-3).
Ohsada won a silver medal in the singles Level 3 event at the Games, and added another in Ice Dancing Level 1, while Stewart won a gold medal in the five kilometre freestyle ski competition and a silver in the 2.5 km classic race.
Ohsada, 18, is a member of the Canmore Skating Club and has trained alongside skate stars such as Jane Gray, and lists Jamie Salé (who awarded Ohsada a medal at the Canadian Special Olympics last year) as her hero. A background in jazz dance has translated into beautiful performances on the ice, as she is one of the club’s most decorated athletes. She trains three times a week with the Canmore club and is also a member of the Calgary Special Olympics Figure Skating team.
Stewart, 29, trains often at the Canmore Nordic Centre when he’s not pumping iron at Lifeworks gym or working diligently at Safeway.
“I’m so proud of him,” said Joyce Chilcott, Stewart’s grandmother. “He wasn’t well when he first got there, but rain postponed his race and he won gold the next day.”
Noted for his explosive starts, he’s a frequent performer at the Kananaskis Cookie race and has received tips from ski stars such as Sara Renner.
This was Stewart’s second trip to the World Winter Games, as he won gold and bronze at the Games in Boise, Idaho.
Both Ohsada and Stewart won double gold medals last year at the Canadian Special Olympics, which allowed them to earn a spot in Pyeongchang.
For more results, visit www.teamcanada2013.ca
