‘Most incredible experience’: Athletes compete at Special Olympics in Alberta

MEDICINE HAT — Tanner Svenson says winning gold in bocce at this year’s Special Olympics Canada Summer Games has capped off a life-changing week in southeast Alberta.

He was down zero to five before mounting a comeback to win 12-5 over Trevor Campese of British Columbia at the Big Marble Go Centre in Medicine Hat, Alta., where the Games were held this week.

“After 10 months of preparation and training it just feels like I’ve done everything I could — and it just paid off,” Svenson said in an interview Saturday morning.

The 23-year-old athlete, who has started a career as a hockey broadcaster in his hometown of Prince Albert, Sask., also interviewed Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour on Wednesday.

“It’s been the most incredible experience of my life,” he said of his week spent at the Games.

Svenson said both winning, which may earn him a berth at the Special Olympics world competition next year, and spending time with Arbour were important to him.

He was one of more than 1,700 Canadian athletes, coaches and officials participating across 10 sports at the Special Olympics, which is designed for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Those who win gold in Medicine Hat will be considered by Team Canada for the Special Olympics World Summer Games taking place October 2027 in Chile.

As of Saturday afternoon, Team Ontario dominated the Summer Games standings with 400 medals. British Columbia was second with 341 medals and Alberta was in third place with 126.

Beyond training and competition, organizers say the Special Olympics is also a chance for athletes to meet peers from different provinces and territories.

Powerlifter Payton Dicks, who swept all four gold medals in her weight class and won the overall gold on Thursday, said it was “surreal” being with so many other athletes.

“It’s like you can go up and start a conversation with these athletes and it’s like you’ve known them for years,” Dicks said.

“That’s just how welcoming they are and it’s just amazing.”

B.C. soccer forward Julie Black, along with her team and competitors, made history as the first cohort to play in a women-only division at the national Summer Games.

Black said she’s formed a strong bond with the other women on her team after playing together for a year. They were able to clinch silver after making it to the final.

“That was a big deal for us. We weren’t even sure we were to come back with a medal,” she added.

There have been viral moments from the Games, too.

Taylor Carter, from Regina, Sask., got a hole-in-one on the 16th hole at Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club on his way to a gold medal Friday.

In a video that’s received tens of thousands of views, Carter can be seen celebrating the ace by jumping and throwing his club in the air.

He said it’s a moment he won’t soon forget.

“I had a feeling that I never had before, just really confident with it. And I stepped up and just hit it and I didn’t know it went in,” Carter said in an interview.

“My brother yelled … and I just basically blacked out and couldn’t figure out what had happened, but it was crazy,” the 33-year-old added, with a smile on his face.

Carter was so excited when he heard the ball went in his smart watch detected an unusually high pulse and attempted to trigger an emergency services call.

“I’m going to keep the hole-in-one forever.”

Games manager Kara Brake said local organizers first started talking about hosting the Summer Games in 2018.

It won hosting rights for 2022 but that year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The city got first right of refusal for 2026 and was able to host it this year.

“So for some of us, this has been six or seven or eight years in the making to finally have these games,” Brake said by phone Saturday.

The Games are expected to bring a $12-million boost to the southeast Alberta city, said Brake.

It’s one of the only major sporting events Medicine Hat has hosted since it upgraded its 7,000-seat hockey arena in 2016 and expanded its recreation centre over a decade ago.

While organizers knew there would be some economic investment through logistics like catering and hotels, Brake said there was no guarantee visitors would explore Medicine Hat.

But after the Games got underway Monday, there were participants, coaches, parents and viewers across the city in local businesses and walking downtown, she said.

“For the tourism dollars and even just putting Medicine Hat on the map, it’s been really neat,” she said.

Organizers also turned to an army of about 1,400 volunteers that’s made it all come to life, many of them residents of the region, Brake added.

Canada’s secretary of state for sport Adam van Koeverden said the athletes “have made Canada proud.”

“Your hard work and dedication shined brightly, and your commitment to give your very best, support one another and never stop believing in what is possible has inspired us all,” van Koeverden said in a statement.

The Summer Games was scheduled to come to a close Saturday evening with a private ceremony at Co-op Place, where the local Canadian Hockey League team plays.

Following the ceremony, Brake said there would be an athlete dance to let participants let off some steam after a week of competing — and mingle with new-found friends from across the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2026.

— By Eli Ridder in Fredericton.

The Canadian Press