SPECIAL Olympic athletes have returned from competition with a medal haul as big as their smiles.
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Last weekend, 28 athletes with disabilities from the Mid North Coast attended the Special Olympics State Ten Pin Bowling Tournament in Campbelltown.
The team is comprised of 21 Port Macquarie bowlers, four Forster bowlers and three Taree bowlers.
They train at Port Macquarie Wave Bowl once a week, every week.
Each have a disability, whether it be cerebral palsy, down syndrome, developmental delay or a combination of all.
Between them, they secured nine gold medals, nine silver medals and two bronze medals in the singles.
In the doubles, they won four gold, three silver and two bronze medals for a total haul of 29.
It is an outstanding result according to coach Ralph Mueller.
“It’s the best result we’ve had since I’ve been involved with them,” he said.
“It shows we’re on the right track to improve our bowlers and to help them achieve their goals, particularly those who want to progress on to higher levels.”
Those higher levels include the 2018 National Games to be held in Adelaide.
Bowlers who win gold are able to be selected for the national team, putting the Mid North Coast in prime position to have several athletes represented in two years’ time.
Mueller said some of the bowlers recorded new personal bests during the tournament.
“Jason Holley bowled 212, Matthew Brown scored our highest for the day with 215, while Renee Lewin bowled 172, which is now her new personal best,” he said.
He said that he is extremely proud of his team for performing under what can be trying circumstances.
“They surprised me and exceeded my expectations,” he said.
“It can be tough to settle them down before competition. I try to relax them and keep them focused. They all did a tremendous job.”
Mueller wanted to thank all of the volunteers who travelled with the team.
“The volunteers give up their time and their work to help these athletes and now it has paid off,” he said.