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EVERYONE鈥橲 A WINNER! 鈥� From left, Yukon athletes Ernest Chua, Owen Munroe, Tijana McCarthy, Darby McIntyre and Michael Sumner display their medals won at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook, N.L. Photo courtesy of SPECIAL OLYMPICS YUKON
It was quite the week for Yukoners on the Rock.
It was quite the week for Yukoners on the Rock.
Five Special Olympics athletes represented the territory in Corner Brook, N.L., at the national body鈥檚 Canada Winter Games that began last Tuesday and concluded Saturday.
Competing on cross-country skis were Ernest Chua, Darby McIntyre and Owen Munroe, while Tijana McCarthy and Michael Sumner donned figure skates.
Each of them earned a medal en route to establishing a new Winter Games record for the territory of eight total medals, toppling the last mark of six.
On Wednesday, McIntyre and Munroe earned Yukon鈥檚 first medals, with Munroe taking gold and McIntyre silver in the classic ski five-kilometre finals at Blow Me Down Cross Country Ski Club.
Weather was a factor Thursday, with rain suspending action at the Nordic ski club.
On Friday, the medal haul continued with McIntyre earning a gold in the 7.5-km classic ski final, while Munroe nabbed bronze.
Chua added a gold in the 500-metre classic ski race.
Meanwhile, McCarthy and Sumner scored double gold in figure skating, with McCarthy topping the field in Level 1 Ladies and Sumner earning the same feat in Level 2 Men鈥檚.
Chua would sneak in Yukon鈥檚 eighth medal 鈥� a silver 鈥� in the one-km ski race on Saturday.
鈥淪pecial Olympics Yukon is extremely pleased with Team Yukon鈥檚 results,鈥� executive director Serge Michaud told the Star.
鈥淧ersonal best performances were achieved with each medal won.鈥�
Originally delayed by a snowstorm in Corner Brook, the elated athletes are expected to arrive at the Whitehorse airport early this afternoon.
The event saw 650 athletes from across 12 provinces and territories across Canada.
Last Tuesday鈥檚 opening ceremonies saw the completion of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, with the lighting of the official torch, which rested in an iceberg prop on stage.
Athletes sporting their team colours also paraded in front of a crowd that included Olympic gold medallists Jamie Sal茅 and Catriona Le May Doan.
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