The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Athletes from Province Win Gold and Silver at World Games

For all Canadian athletes, the opportunity to represent their country and win a medal at a world games is a life-long dream. That dream has just become a reality for two athletes from Newfoundland and Labrador, who have been representing Canada at Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Power lifter Jackie Barrett of Corner Brook won four medals, including three gold and one silver. Jackie set a new Special Olympics World Record Squat lifting a 267.5 KGs resulting in a gold medal. His Dead lift of 285 KGs, was also good for gold, while his Bench Press of 130 KGs gave him a silver medal. Jackie’s performance of 682.5 KGs Overall gave him the gold medal overall, as well.

Michael Harris from Gander Bay South, NL won a silver medal as part of Canada’s men's 4x100m relay team. Michael ran the second leg as part of the foursome with Ghislain Langlais,(QC) Kyle Whitehouse (ON), and David Ingram (MAN).

“The organization is very proud of how our athletes performed. They were great ambassadors of our province during and after competition and their athletic performances were better than we ever expected” says Nelson White, Executive Director of Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Athletes, along with chief medical officer Dr. Carmel Casey, will be arriving home late on July 6. Dr. Casey and Mike Harris will arrive in Gander on flight AC8860 at 12:08 am. Jackie Barrett will arrive at Deer Lake on flight AC 8886 at 12:22 am.

About the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games
The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games is an international competition which ran from June 25 to July 4, 2011 in Athens, Greece, and brought together an estimated 7,000 athletes from as many as 185 countries that competed in 22 sports. Canadians competed in seven of the 22 sports, including 10-pin bowling, athletics, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball and swimming. For more information, please visit //www.athens2011.org 

About Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador
Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador is dedicated to enriching the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an intellectual disability through sport. It is a provincial not-for-profit grassroots organization that provides sport training and competition opportunities for over 570 athletes of all ages and abilities. There are currently thirteen community based clubs that offer sport programs. Through sport Special Olympics offers athletes and families a sense of achievement and an opportunity to excel as they take on leadership roles within their community.

For more information, visit www.sonl.ca 

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Media contact:
Nelson White
Executive Director
Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador
709-738 -1923, cell: 709-690-8335
nelsonw@sonl.ca 

2011 07 04             2:00 p.m.