KINGSTON, Jamaica, – Jamaica’s contingent to the 2019 Special Olympics Summer Games will return home on Sunday with a record-breaking 33 medals.
The Games were held from March 14 to March 21 in the United Arab Emirates.
The team’s haul of 15 gold medals, 10 silver and eight bronze, surpasses the previous best of 29 medals which they copped in the Summer Games in the USA four years ago.
The athletics team accounted for the majority of the medals with seven gold, five silver, and three bronze.
The contingent’s most famous athlete, Kirk Wint, did not win gold, but the para-athlete dominated the headlines with silver in the 50 meters and bronze in the softball.
Jamaica’s unified basketball and football teams both won gold medals.
Athletics head coach Andre Johnstone lauded his troops for their performance.
“The athletes are proud of their achievements. All of them got a medal to take home, [and] they are happy to have represented Jamaica. Winning fifteen medals from our 10 athletes is excellent. At the end of the Games our team was sought after for interviews and pictures. Kirk Wint was particularly the star,” he said.
Minister of Sport Olivia Grange was also full of praise of the country’s Special Olympians.
“Our Special Olympians have consistently done well, giving us much to celebrate and have certainly played their part in making Jamaica the great sporting nation that it is. I wish not only to congratulate the Special Olympians but to praise team support staff and officials for their dedicated service and leadership,’” Grange said.
“I look forward to welcoming home from Abu Dhabi our valiant Special Olympians on behalf of a proud and grateful nation.”
