‘It’s an amazing experience’: Four Medicine Hat bowlers are heading to the Special Olympics

“I’m just looking for have a good time and have fun,” Sullivan told CHAT News at a bowling practice.

To qualify for these games, the athletes had to progress through both local and provincial competitions.

Mentoring them through the process has been Kristen Sept, a mission staff for Team Alberta in five-pin bowling.

“Getting to live in athlete’s village and getting to see all the other sports and cheer on our fellow Team Alberta, it’s an amazing experience, so I’m hoping they can just soak in the experience,” Sept said.

But being a part of Team Alberta does come along with some expectations. This team has been practicing twice a week, including dryland fitness training.

“They also have to monitor their diet, we do mental performance training, they go through a whole bunch of different training to lead up to games,” Sept explained.

But the athletes will also make sure to have some fun in between competition.

“Meeting new people and all that, getting to know new people,” said Sinjin Soper, describing what he’s most looking forward to about the games.

“My friends and stuff are going,” Brielle Granger added.

“I hope I can dance [at] the banquet and have everybody get together,” said Sullivan.

The games will be live-streamed from Feb 27 to Mar 2, so Hatters can cheer on their local representation in real-time.

by Lisa Parent

‘It’s an amazing experience’: Four Medicine Hat bowlers are heading to the Special Olympics

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