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World Games experience ‘amazing’ for Sigal

SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Vernon athlete returns home with pair of medals
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The two medals he won in cross-country skiing aside, Vernon’s Justin Sigal enjoyed his Austrian view.

Sigal won silver and bronze at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

“The whole thing was amazing,” said Sigal, back home, enjoying a break before returning to work at Tim Hortons.

“I have never been so close to the Alps. We were staying in this village (Schladming) just below the Alps and we could see them right outside from our hotel window.”

Competing for Canada in his first World Games, Sigal won silver in the M6 five-kilometre classic to go with bronze in the 2.5-km classic. He and fellow Okanagan skier Frances Stanley teamed with a pair of Albertans to help Canada finish seventh in the 4x1km freestyle relay.

“The competition was pretty tough,” said Sigal. “In the races where I won medals, it was pretty fun. I felt like I was pushing myself to the limit.

“It was such a great experience. I had no idea I had won medals until I looked at the results board after the races and I was shocked. I knew I had fast times because I couldn’t feel anything at the end (of the races).”

Sigal, who enjoyed wiener schnitzel and daily helpings of fresh bread, had his parents, Les and Jackie, cheering him on.

“That was pretty amazing,” he said. “They got to see how hard I trained and how well I did. I was so happy to have them there.”

Sigal spent months training for Austria after qualifying a year ago at the Canadian Special Olympics Winter Games in Newfoundland. He spent the summer hiking mountains surrounding Kelowna with fellow Canadian cross-country ski team members Tracey Melesko and Frances Stanley.

Melesko returned home with three gold medals and a bronze, while Stanley came back with a gold medal draped around his neck in his division of the 2.5-km classic.

“It’s so awesome that they won medals, they inspired me to do my best,” said Sigal.

The Okanagan skiers were joined in Austria on Team Canada by coach Ray Huson of Penticton and coach/wax technician Garth Vickers of Kelowna.

There were 20 athletes from B.C. on the 108-member Canadian squad, competing in cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, floor hockey, speed skating and figure skating.

Another of the highlights for Sigal was wearing his Canadian outfit and participating in the event’s opening ceremonies on a cold and rainy Austrian night.

“I was at the back (of the Canadian contingent) when we marched in. I can still see it,” he said. “There were so many people in the stadium. It was very exciting.”

Sigal spent his time in Austria concentrating on his discipline. He did manage to catch some snowshoe action and cheer on his Canadian teammates.

Overall, he rates the experience a perfect 10 out of 10.

“I made some new friends and there was lots of pin trading that went on,” he said.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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