Fleming College

Three Fleming College students returned from the Special Olympics carrying shiny medals. Richard Byrd, Lisa Butler and Kai Freeland all left St. Albert, Alberta with medallions around their necks for competing in the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games last week.

Byrd earned one gold and one silver medal for Nordic skiing, Butler earned one bronze medal for Nordic skiing; and Freeland earned gold, silver and bronze medals for speed skating. On Monday, March 5, Butler and Freeland both brought their medals to Fleming College to show their instructors and classmates their achievement.

Butler said her Fleming instructors wished her luck before she left to compete. “They said ‘good luck, and try your best and have fun,’ and they’ll be proud of me either way,” said Butler. “[They’d be] happy either way, but they’re happy now because I have medals!”

Butler said she enjoyed her experience competing in Alberta. “It was really challenging, really hard competition,” she said. “It felt really fun and I enjoyed it.”

Freeland, who takes a culinary arts class at Fleming, said that when he wasn’t speed skating, he was eating. “It was just eating and speed skating,” said Freeland, who enjoyed eating spaghetti and shrimp while he was in Alberta.

Freeland earned gold, silver and bronze medals for speed skating, and also formed friendships with his competitors. “It was fun. I chit-chatted and I liked everyone,” said Freeland. The Fleming College student handed out Ontario pins for participates to wear on their lanyard, and he collected pins from places across Canada.

Butler and Freeland both wore their medals to school, and talked to Fleming staff and students about competing in the Special Olympics. “They liked my medal,” said Freeland on the reaction he got from his peers. “[I feel] excited. Happy I won.”

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For more information:

Leigh McEachran, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 leighm@flemingc.on.ca