Feb 14, 2013- 1:17 PM
Regan Millsap placed second in the 100-metre snowshoeing race, second in the 200-metre race and first in the 4x400-metre relay.
Kelsey Mellan placed sixth in the 100-metre snowshoeing race, fifth in the 200-metre race and second in the 4 x 100-metre relay.
Millsap is a Grade 12 student at Manitoulin Secondary School. Mellan is a recent graduate.
They qualified for the Special Olympics World Winter Games by capturing top honours at the Regional Meet in Sault Ste. Marie in 2010, the Provincial Games in Thunder Bay in 2011 and the National Games in Alberta in 2012.
Judy Olacke, a teacher at Manitoulin Secondary School, coaches the athletes with Katherine Tipper as assistant coach.
“We are proud of Regan Millsap and Kelsey Mellan for earning the honour of competing on the world stage and achieving their personal best,” said Manitoulin Secondary School principal Laurie Zahnow.
“These inspiring young athletes have put Manitoulin Island on the map. They are exceptional role models for young people everywhere.
“Their success is a tribute to their supportive team, which includes our very own Judy Olacke who has been a dedicated coach of Special Olympics for many years. On behalf of Manitoulin Secondary School, congratulations to all on a job well done.”
Millsap is from Evansville. A six-year veteran of Special Olympics, this was her first World Games.
In addition to snowshoeing, she competes in track and field, bowling, baseball and floor hockey. She prepares for competitions through self-talk to get herself mentally ready. Her goal was to win at least one gold.
Mellan is from Manitowaning. In her short time at Special Olympics, she has become an all-around athlete competing in softball, bowling, track and field, curling and floor hockey, in addition to snowshoeing.
If that wasn’t enough, she also works at doctors’ offices in Mindemoya and Manitowaning, volunteers for mountain bike races and helps with wilderness first aid courses.
Her goal for PyeongChang was to train her best and do her best not to quit.
PyeongChang is the hub of winter sports and the venue for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
South Korea hosted the largest Special Olympics World Winter Games featuring seven categories of sports including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snow boarding, snow shoeing, speed skating, figure skating, and floor hockey.
More than 112 countries participate with more than 3,300 athletes and coaches.
