Sandpoint Special Olympics team brings home medals

SANDPOINT — It was a long trip for the Sandpoint Special Olympics team, which traveled to Sun Valley recently for the Winter Olympic State Games, but well worth it, as a host of local athletes brought home medals.

The trip required 14 hours of travel each way with some bad roads, but it would take a lot more than a lengthy drive to slow down Sandpoint, which showed up ready to compete for gold medals.

Brandon Beck won gold metals for both the novice slolam and giant slolam in the alpine ski events. Lee Hudson won gold in both the 50 meter and 100 meter nordic ski. Tammy Shivel took gold in the 50 meter and silver in the 100 meter and Lillian Campbell took silver in the 50 meter and bronze in the 100 meter nordic ski.

In snowshoeing, Natasha Freeberg took gold in the 50 meter and bronze in the 100 meter races. Robin Dillworth took bronze in the 200 meter and gold in the 400 meter and John Painter took silver in both the 400 meter and the 800 meter.

The Sandpoint team now turns its attention to this Saturday’s Penguin Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics which will take place at noon at City Beach.

“What a great bunch of athletes and volunteers,” said coach Chris Painter. “We are hoping for a good turn out as this is our big fundraiser of the year. We are also hoping for 55 degrees and sunny weather and looking forward to a fun time.”