Port Hardy’s Markus Geisler has officially qualified for the Special Olympics Provincial Summer Games.
Geisler swam in four events at the Regionals and he plans to compete in the same four events at Provincials, though he does have the option of dropping out of one event.
His events are the 25 metre breaststroke, 50 metre freestyle, 100 metre freestyle and 50 metre backstroke.
“Markus has been a part of the Special Olympics B.C. Mt. Waddington program for three years now,” said Melinda Dennison, Special Olympics B.C. Mt. Waddington co-ordinator. “He has tremendously improved over the year.”
Geisler will be headed to Kamloops July 6 with over 400 other athletes, coaches and mission staff (helpers for coaches).
Special Olympics B.C. is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sport.
In 1980, Special Olympics B.C. started out with two weekends of games and about 500 participants. Today they provide year-round, high-quality sports programs and competitions for more than 4,600 athletes in 57 communities around the province, with the vital assistance of more than 3,900 trained, dedicated volunteers.
The programs run by Special Olympics B.C. give athletes the chance to gain sport skills and improve their health while enjoying training that could take them to competitions at local, regional, national, and international levels. But the benefits from Special Olympics B.C. programs go well beyond the basics:
Their athletes experience joy and acceptance, cultivate friendships and self-confidence, and feel empowered to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
— with files from Melinda Dennison and Special Olympics B.C.