Clark County Special Olympians perform well

Standout performances from Gigi Gernhart and Angelina Schubothe highlighted results for athletes from Clark County at the Special Olympics Washington Winter Games.

The Games were held March 2-4 in the Wenatchee area, and involved some 1,500 athletes in six sports.

Competing for the Sno Phantoms, a Clark County skiing and snowboarding team, Gigi and Angelina each won gold medals in all of their events. Angelina races on the advanced course, and Gigi on the intermediate course.

Gigi’s gold medal win makes her eligible to apply for one of Washington’s allocated spots for the 2013 Special Olympics World Games, to be held in South Korea. Jonathon Schauer’s gold medal on the advanced course makes him eligible to apply for the World Games.

The Sno Phantoms consist of approximately 20 Southwest Washington athletes who range in age from 20 to 50. Several athletes practice and compete with Unified Partners. This program matches a non-disabled volunteer to an athlete with a disability, and the pair trains and competes together during the ski season and Winter Games.

Individuals 8 and older with intellectual disabilities are eligible for Special Olympics. Contact: Rick Cook by email at CCSOWA@live.com.