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World Games athlete Kelly McCormick wears her Silver Medal immediately after placing second in her division of the Super G at Bogus Basin Recreation Area. |
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Louisville skier Kelly McCormick claimed the first medal at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games by a Kentucky athlete. McCormick captured the Silver Medal in the Intermediate Super G, finishing in a time of 00:50.56, just .52 seconds behind Gold Medalist Daniela Schmid of Switzerland. McCormick edged Team USA teammate Anne Harding Carey by just .05 seconds to hold onto the Silver.
In her second race of the day, Carey slipped past McCormick who ended up with the Bronze Medal in the Intermediate Giant Slalom with a combined time of 2:23.72, just more than 20 seconds behind Carey. Once again, Switzerland’s Schmid was the Gold Medalist.
McCormick will have a third shot at a Gold Medal on Feb. 13 — the last day of the Games — when she races in the Intermediate Slalom Final.
Later in the day, Louisville figure skater Jeannie Luersen came from third place following the compulsory portion of the competition to earn a Silver Medal in her division. It is the second World Games medal for Luersen, who won gold in the same event in 2005 in Nagano, Japan.
The Games are bringing together more than 3,000 athletes from 85 countries to compete in five sports.
For more information the World Winter Games or about the Kentucky athletes and coaches who are participating, contact Trish Mazzoni at 800-633-7403 or 502-695-8222 or via e-mail at tmazzoni@soky.org.
