Golden girl
Hundreds greet Special Olympics medallist at Sydney airport
Aimee Gordon’s welcome home was a touching moment, even for an airport where emotional scenes are commonplace.
About 200 people, including fans, friends and family, showed up at J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport on Sunday afternoon to greet the 46-year-old speedskater on her triumphant return to Cape Breton after winning a gold and a bronze at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.
Already overwhelmed by a tarmac welcome that saw close family members privately embrace the Sydney Mines athlete after she disembarked the airplane, Gordon was engulfed by cheering fans, many holding welcome signs, when she entered the terminal.
After making her way through the adoring crowd, her return was formally acknowledged by local town crier Allie MacInnis before she was given flowers and feted by local dignitaries.
Then she and coach Cyril MacDonald, who along with Aimee’s father Alex and aunt Frances made up the Gordon entourage, worked the crowd as the double-medallist proudly showed off the medals she won in the 500-metre race (gold) and the 333-metre race (bronze).
One of the first to hug the Special Olympian was her aunt Ada Gordon.
“I don’t have to tell you how proud we are — you can see,” she said, gesturing to the overflowing arrival area that was completely taken over by Aimee’s supporters.
Krysti Power made the journey from Sydney Mines to welcome her friend home.
“We’re very proud of her — I think it’s wonderful that she was able to represent Cape Breton,” she said.
Sr. Ann Maureen Cleary, a former teacher of Aimee’s, was also among the crowd surrounding the island’s latest celebrity.
“Oh, this is 100 per cent good — look at all the people here,” she said.
For her part, Aimee may have been a bit overwhelmed by the attention, but the airport scene was only the beginning.
With so many people looking to congratulate Aimee, it was some time before she was able to leave the airport, but when she finally departed she did so in style with an escort detail that included police cars and a fire truck. The procession toured through Sydney and North Sydney before arriving in her hometown, where she was the guest of honour at a welcome home reception at the John J. Nugent Firemen’s Centre.
The recent Special Olympics World Winter Games wrapped up Saturday. Staffed by more than 3,000 volunteers, the nineday competition featured more than 3,000 athletes and 1,100 coaches from 110 countries.