LMC Student's Success at the Berlin Special Olympics 2023

Posted: 19.10.2023

James Huntington, a student on our NHS Supported Internship, gained not one, but two Silver medals at the Berlin Special Olympics 2023.

Special Olympics International is the largest disability sports organisation in the world. As a global movement, they reach 5.7 million athletes across 200 countries.

The Special Olympics World Games are the world's largest inclusive sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities competed together from 17 to 25 June 2023 in Berlin and for the first time ever in Germany.

We use the power of sport to change attitudes and enable opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to live active, healthy and fulfilling lives. We want to inspire real change by raising awareness of intellectual disability, end discrimination and build an inclusive world for all.

Special Olympics GB

SOGB Intro Slides.jpg

Intellectual Disability (ID) is a term used when a person has certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills, including communication, social and self-care skills. There are currently 1.5 million people with an intellectual disability in Great Britain and this figure is set to rise.

Personally Selected

James was personally selected to represent his country at the Special Olympics after all his hard work training with his club, Special Olympics Greater Manchester, and being passionate about the sport. He was one of four athletes selected from Lancashire to represent Team Special Olympics GB.

James took part in the 10km TT (time trial) and 10km Road Race and successfully won Silver medals in both!

The top three finishers of each competition were honored with gold, silver and bronze medals, while the fourth to eighth place finishers received ribbons with their placement printed on them. A total of 4,002 medals and 6,670 placement ribbons were presented at 1,334 award ceremonies this year.

To represent Team SOGB as an athlete with intellectual disabilities deserves the highest praise and recognition. Given the incredibly challenging circumstances that we have encountered in recent years, winning a place in the Special Olympics World Games squad is not only an incredibly proud moment for our athletes, but also for their loved ones and our fantastic team of volunteers too, who make the Special Olympics GB happen.

Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB.

On behalf of the whole College staff and our wider community, we'd like to say a huge well done and congratulations to James and the rest of the team for their amazing achievements. It's a real honour to represent the country at such a prestigious event, you really did us all proud!

Take a look at the images below to see James in action with his team mates.