Special Olympians return after 12 medal haul at Winter Games

IRELAND’s Euro Indoor athletes weren’t the medal heroes of the weekend. The Special Olympics team returned yesterday from the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan with a 12 medal haul in tow.

The athletes received a rapturous reception at Dublin Airport following their success in the Downhill, Giant Slalom and Slalom events of the Alpine Skiing competition in the Ichinose Family Ski Ground in Yamanouchi Town.

A terrific final day yielded six medals in the slalom event of the alpine skiing competition. Each Team Ireland member distinguished themselves by winning at least one medal over the three disciplines. Ryan Hill from Richhill in Co Armagh won a full set of medals.