Eastman Special Olympics sends off top athletes to nationals

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This article was published 25/02/2024 (498 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Six Eastman athletes are heading off to Calgary this week to take part in the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.

Snowshoers Caleb Friesen, William Middleton, Jacklyn Reimer and Nolan Penner will be joined by bowler Alex Koop and speedskater Terry-Linn Johnson at the games.

The club held a pep rally and send-off for the athletes Feb. 20 at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School (SRSS). The rally not only commemorated the athletes attending nationals, but the community fundraising efforts which have made the trip possible.

“It was a pretty amazing journey,” Cathy Wiebe told the club in a speech.

“I have never had to raise this kind of money before, and it was so easy. You guys are such a big part of the community, nobody would say no to me.”

Wiebe said the club raised roughly $11,000, which helps cover the athletes’ flights and accommodations in Calgary.

“When I walked into a room and said ‘I need money for my athletes,’ they were like ‘how much do you want,’” Wiebe said.

Friesen, Middleton and Reimer squeezed in a quick training session before the rally, running up and down the football field at SRSS.

With abnormally warm temperatures melting much of the snowpack in the region, snowshoe training has been difficult for the club.

The opening ceremonies of the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games will take place on Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m., and will be livestreamed on the games’ website.

There will be eight events at this year’s games, including curling, floor hockey, cross country skiing, figure skating and alpine skiing in addition to the three events with Eastman athletes.

A total of 89 athletes from Manitoba will be heading to Calgary for the games. While all indoor events will be livestreamed, TSN has yet to announce their full streaming schedule.