Duo’s joy at medals haul at Olympics
Leanne and Ashley in first all-female team to reach final
Two Rutherglen basketball players have returned home from the Special Olympics with a silver and a bronze medal.
Leanne Woolfe, 40, and Ashley McCloy, 24, were part of the Scotland West team who became the first all-female side to reach a final in a pool of 14 mixed teams.
The pair, who both have special needs, joined their five fellow members in Sheffield at the largest sports event in Britain for people with intellectual disabilities.
Mill Court resident Ashley and Leanne, of Avonbank Road, played in both the 3v3 and 5v5 teams to deliver a topthree finish in both competitions.
Leanne was delighted to represent her country in the event which saw over 2,600 athletes with intellectual disabilities of all ages and abilities come together from across the country.
She said:“It was good because this was the first time the girls team had ever got to a final.”
Two Rutherglen women have overcome all expectations by winning silver and bronze medals in the 2017 Special Olympics.
Leanne Woolfe, 40, and Ashley McCloy, 24, were part of the Scotland West basketball team who became the first all-female side to reach a final in a pool of 14 mixed teams.
The pair, who both have special needs, joined their five fellow members in Sheffield at the largest sports event in Britain for people with intellectual disabilities.
Scotland West had two sides who were placed in the three divisions of five teams according to their level of disability.
And along with the gold winning men’s team, the girls’ performance throughout the tournament impressed coach Alisdair Cameron.
He said: “They were a breath of fresh air and everyone was talking about them.
“They were the only women’s team there and were playing against men in the mixed teams, so everyone was commenting on them. They handled themselves very well.
“They were magnificent out there on the court and they were a pleasure to be around all week. They really overcame all our expectations because we just didn’t know how they were going to do.
“We were there Monday to Friday and the teams played a total of 25 games altogether. The girls won all their games but two which was incredible.”
The Games were a chance to give athletes with an intellectual disability the opportunity to achieve and to demonstrate their abilities to the community.
And with many sportsmen and women facing challenges in their everyday lives, Alisdair was happy to see teamwork being used to succeed, which he thinks could bring more recognition to the event.
Mill Court resident Ashley, and Leanne, of Avonbank Road, were part of a team of three and a team of five who won bronze and silver medals respectively.
A narrow defeat to Newcastlebased team Northern meant they just missed out on the gold in the 5v5 competition but Leanne was delighted to have got so far in the competitions.
The dedicated player, who also works as a voluntary swimming coach, said: “It was good because this was the first time the girls team had ever got to a final.
“It felt brilliant to win and to actually be on the court and it was good to represent my country.
“Basketball helps with getting to know people and also helps me with my balance.”
Ashley and Leanne both play for the Glasgow Eagles Additional Needs squad and were successful in their trials for the Scotland West team out of 30 hopefuls.
Coach Alasdair said he hoped that the women’s success would help promote the Special Olympics.
He added: “Hopefully that will give them some recognition because the Special Olympics is often put to the side by the Paralympics.
“It doesn’t get a lot of coverage. Someone with special needs, it’s a silent illness so just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
“It can be a lot to deal with for these players and can be hard for them. It can be hard for them to come out because they maybe don’t want to or not want to meet new people.
“But it was good to see them all want to get involved.”