Jacqueline Gravel, a cross country skier from Arran-Elderslie, brought home two silver medals and one bronze from the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria this month.

Hub Staff

Cross-country skier Jaqueline Gravel returned to Canada with three medals after competing in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria, March 14 to 25.

Representing Team Canada, Gravel, who is from Arran-Elderslie, just east of Port Elgin, received a silver in the 2.5km Freestyle Race with a time of 12:18:80, a silver in the Team Relay 4 x 1km with a time of 28:13:10 and a bronze in the 1km Freestyle Race with a time of 4:54:50.

Gravel said that she is proud of herself for placing on the podium but insisted that she was already proud just to be representing Canada at the World Winter Games.

“It was quite an adventure,” said Gravel March 27. “It felt like my team was a family because we bonded so much during the trip in Austria,” she said, adding it was a “memorable event”.

Gravel said she enjoyed the “mountainous scenery” through which she had the opportunity to race; and when wet weather delayed a race she got the chance to explore what Austria had to offer and bond with her fellow teammates.

“The views were absolutely gorgeous,” said Gravel, adding that the ski venues were well done, despite the balmy weather.

Now that she has returned to Canada, Gravel said she will start training for the Provincial Games in Middleton this summer, where she will complete in Track and Field.

Jacqueline Gravel represented Team Canada in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria March 14 to 25.