Two Kentucky athletes were among the first American medalists at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games overnight, as swimmers Megan McCormick of Lexington and Kyle Gathof of LaGrange swam legs on medal-winning 4x50-meter freestyle relay teams on the first day of competition at the Games.
McCormick teamed with Rebecca Carter of Arkansas, Ruth Engler of Delaware and Lindsay Fulop of New Jersey to claim a Bronze Medal in their division of the 4x50 Free. The U.S. team finished in a time of 3:00.60, just :00.66 seconds behind the silver medal team from Great Britain. China claimed the gold in a time of 2:22.70.
Gathof swam with Todd Eisinger of Ohio, Michael Herbst of New Jersey and Andres Miyares of Florida to earn a Silver. They
finished in a time of 2:32.84, just :00.80 seconds behind the Gold Medal pace of Poland. Jamaica took the bronze in a time of 2:36.89.
Gathof has a full day tomorrow in Shanghai, swimming the 100-meter freestyle preliminary in the morning (shortly after 9 pm TONIGHT EDT), followed by his second medal opportunity in the 50-meter freestyle in the afternoon (shortly after 1:30 am EDT).
Both Kentucky bowlers — Andrew Browning of Lexington and Jessica Haggerty of Louisville — will have their first medal opportunities overnight as the Singles Finals begins at 9 pm EDT (9 am tomorrow in Shanghai).
Matt Minning of Taylor Mill will also be in action overnight. He will run the preliminary heat of the 5,000 meters beginning at approximately 9 pm EDT.
The Kentucky basketball team competing at the Games will also play it first official game of the tournament when it meets Tunisia at 1:45 am EDT (1:45 pm in Shanghai).
Meet the Kentucky Athletes
Complete 2007 World Games Archive
