World class
Local athlete captures gold medal at World Winter Games
Daniel Martin struck gold on Friday in the 1,600-metre snowshoeing race in Austria.
Martin was competing in Austria at the Special Olympic World Games as a member of Team Canada.
Martin, who won silver in the 4X400 metre snowshoe relay on Thursday, specializes in longer distances, so Cathy Mason, regional co-ordinator for Special Olymics in Pictou County, said she wasn’t surprised to hear that he won gold.
The 19-year-old Special Olympian from Pictou County is the first person from Pictou County to compete at the World Games since 1987.
To have the success he has at such a young age bodes well for Martin’s future Mason believes.
“I think there’s bigger and better things along the way for him,” she said. “This is just the start for him.”
Martin, who has autism, won two gold medals in the snowshoe competition a year ago at the Canadian Special Olympics winter games, which earned him a ticket to Austria.
The games were hosted by the cities of Graz and Schladming, situated about an hour apart in the Swiss Alps.
Martin will be flying home late on Saturday.
Mason said they will hold a welcome home event for him Tuesday night from 6:30 to 7:30 at UCT building next to Summer Street Industries for those who want to come out and congratulate him.