Dominica captures three medals at LA Special Olympics

Dominica's team and crew at the games
Dominica’s team and crew at the games

Dominica has grabbed three medals, so far, at the biggest sports and humanitarian event in the world, the Special Olympics World Summer Games now being held in Los Angeles.

Five special Olympians, together with their coaches, from the island left the island on July 21st to compete in the event.

They are Crispine Dailey, Micheal Detouche, Claudius Shipley and Stephanie Laronde competing in track and field and Adrina Aaron, competing in Bocce.

Speaking to Dominica News Online (DNO) on Friday, the elated Head of Delegation and Chairman of Special Olympics Dominica, Ainsworth Irish, said the medallists are Claudius Shipley and Stephanie Laronde receiving gold and Adrina Aaron winning bronze.

“Claudius Shipley got a gold medal two days ago in the men 200 metres,” Irish revealed. “He clocked 32.87 seconds. Stephanie Laronde also got gold in the 50 metres race and clocked 9.69 seconds in coming first.”

Irish noted that Laronde competed against five athletes from the ‘big countries.’

“She beat the delegates from Nigeria, Spain, Bolivia and Venezuela,” he said.

He stated further that Aaron won a bronze medal in Bocce.

“Today our three male athletes compete in the 100-metre while Stephanie competes in the girls 100-metre walk,” Irish stated. “In a nutshell we can tell you that the spirit is high.”

In the 2010 Special Olympics Caribbean Games, held in Jamaica, seven athletes represented Dominica and all seven returned home with various medals including gold, silver or bronze medals.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games began on July 25 and ends on August 7.

See photos below courtesy of Dominica Special Olympics.

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38 Comments

  1. marie-claire
    August 4, 2015

    Whoss congrats

  2. UK/DA02
    August 4, 2015

    WOW congratulations to all the athletes and what an inspirational, uplifting and empowering good news story this is!!!!! :)

    I’m so very proud of all the athletes, parents and officials, and long may this excellent success continue!!!! :-D

    It just goes to show you how people with disabilities are people just like the rest of us nontheless, and as such should be treated just that way……..”simple” Treat people with the dignity in which one would like they or their families treated really…………this world would be a much better place if we applied this basic prinicipal.

    You’ve all flown the flag for Dominica in a superb manner and conducted yourselves as “simply true amabassordors” for your island, unlike so many of those so-called “able-bodied” athletes often times just enjoy jumping on a plane, happy to dish out performances that are sub-standard. One certain thing is you’ve shown them.

    Fantastic job to our Olympians, here’s to many more to come in the…

  3. Zandoli Girl
    August 2, 2015

    Disability does not mean inability. Congratulations to all the special olympians.

  4. Texas
    August 2, 2015

    Wow! You guys rock. Congratulations to the team and all who made this possible. Way to go.

  5. August 2, 2015

    wow can you believe it i actually have tears in my eyes?congratulations to the entire team you made me proud to be from the same part of the world as you all big up you all selves

  6. ME
    August 2, 2015

    Congratulations to all the althlets, special congrats to the winners Claudius and Andrina you deserve it for your hard work. I don’t know Ms laronde but you are also well deserving of your praise. Mr Irish and Ms Emelda Aaron thank you for your patience and love, God Bless

  7. MS.SMILEY
    August 1, 2015

    CONGRATS

  8. The Truth
    August 1, 2015

    Congratulations to all! I hope all of you’ll hard work will be noticed when you’ll return back to Dominica…..The sky is the limit………

  9. Wadi
    August 1, 2015

    Absolutely brilliant! Well done, Dominica is so proud of you.

  10. vegnag
    August 1, 2015

    Beautiful, wonderful1 what smiles!! what a proud moment for us Dominicans here and abroad- first the diaspora in the US should celebrate with them and on their return we in Dominica will put the icing on the cake. Congratulations to all involved.

  11. raspluto
    July 31, 2015

    congrats team 767 great job well done very proud
    jah guide and protect

  12. Hope
    July 31, 2015

    :-D Congrats team Dominica! Bravo. I am so proud of you all. Job well done coaches.

  13. July 31, 2015

    Congratulations to our our sons and daughters you make us proud. Ignore the ###sses. you cannot fix stupid. Who the cap fit by all means use the finger.

  14. memoi
    July 31, 2015

    Dominica should be extremely proud of their athletes… with tears, I smiled when we won the first gold…..well done, well done. Big hooray to the parents/ care takers who take care of these children, we all know it is not the easiest thing to do and the parents/care takers should also get our praises.

  15. Yuyu
    July 31, 2015

    Congratulations to the entire team. You all have made us very happy and proud

  16. dee
    July 31, 2015

    i hope the people in charge keep a big ceremony to appreciate the athletes when they return next week.

  17. So Proud
    July 31, 2015

    Thanks guys for representing Dominica and making us so proud. Congratulations.

  18. Way to go
    July 31, 2015

    Congratulations Stephie, Go Girl!!!!!. We are indeed proud of you and your teammates.
    God Bless

  19. qstorm78
    July 31, 2015

    Very good guys.. Doing better than the able bodied athletes.. Should have a parade on their return.

  20. Jay prosper
    July 31, 2015

    Why did you Dominica new online allow that comment. Shame on heel and the one who alleged that post. Shame

    • August 1, 2015

      blame the message and the messanger not DNO for in spite of the insensibility of the message it would not be right for DNO to censor the comment posted by grell. every body is free to post their comments good or bad and it is left to us readers and commenters to put that individual in check. a big and hearty congratulations to all the athletes.

  21. Concerned Dominican
    July 31, 2015

    Seriously Grell??? Come on!! Be reasonable for once. Your comments here never really makes sense

  22. diabless
    July 31, 2015

    Great They have done meritorious service to Dominica.

  23. mine
    July 31, 2015

    I am very proud of you guys let others see you can do things too. Congratulation to all of you.

  24. Just saying
    July 31, 2015

    Congratulations to all of the participants and especially the winners of medals. Congratulations to the parents, guardians and all those who have supported the participants. I love the smiles. They are making Dominica proud.

  25. real possie
    July 31, 2015

    @ grell, people giving you thumbs now but what they don’t get is you make these foolery statements all the time, only because you do it to the PM and the government they give you manufactured thumbs up. I must say big up to our Olympians, keep making your country proud.

  26. pallotte
    July 31, 2015

    This is so remarkable….but they should not give them these big jerseys

  27. Cyrique
    July 31, 2015

    Congratulations to all!!!! I am beaming with pride. I’m ever sooooooo proud!!! God bless Dominica !!! Xxxx

  28. LawieBawie
    July 31, 2015

    Congratulations to all

  29. grell
    July 31, 2015

    so sad they could have given the young man some dentures to go and represent.

    • smh
      July 31, 2015

      My momma always taught me that if I have nothing nice to say just shut up…I wonder yours taught you…Congrats to ALL the athletes. You have made Dominica proud!!

    • Excuse Me?
      July 31, 2015

      I don’t know any of the athletes and I am not usually that sensitive, but your comment hurt me to the core. You are living proof that there will always be weeds among the wheat!

    • Miss Pretty
      July 31, 2015

      @Grell You are pretty disgusting and immature

    • mine
      July 31, 2015

      grell you should be ashame of yourself if you so care of his dentures I hope that you are man enough to help him as a congratulation gift when he comes home.

    • memoi
      July 31, 2015

      Grell I heard it from Lucky Dube..”If you can’t say something good about some body, please shut up”.

    • Original Mahaut Man
      July 31, 2015

      You are a fool as usual.Write something positive even for once.

    • Alex
      August 2, 2015

      Idiot!!! Shut up!!! Crap!!!

  30. Humanist
    July 31, 2015

    This is a remarkable achievement, Keep up the good work!!

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