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Johnny Kelly of Corryton, who competed in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, arrived back in Tennessee with two gold medals and one silver.
Kelly left the U.S. for Italy on March 5 and competed first in the giant slalom, winning a silver medal. He missed gold by a tenth of a second on a course that forces snowboarders to navigate a series of poles.
His next competition was slalom, for which he won his first gold medal of the Winter Olympic Games. He went on to win a second gold medal in the Super G, another form of slalom.
Kelly was thrilled to win three medals, but the best part was being reunited with fellow competitors from other parts of the United States.
Despite just missing the gold in the giant slalom, Kelly said that event was his favorite.
"It's funny because I've been telling people that my favorite race was actually the one that I got silver in. That was the one I had the most fun in," Kelly said.
Gina Legg, a Special Olympics coach and longtime supporter, monitored Kelly's competitions and was thrilled at his successes.
"I was actually working on my tractor with a friend of mine, and I just had to stop because I was screaming and jumping up and down when he won his first gold and calling everyone I knew, although Johnny tricked me and he's going to pay the price for it," Legg told Knox News.
When Legg heard from a Special Olympics official that Kelly had won a gold medal, she texted Kelly to ask and he mischievously told her he had only gotten eighth place.
Legg was frantically trying to find out what had happened when Kelly texted, "Just kidding," and sent a picture of his gold medal.
Legg decided to host a surprise party to "get him back" for the joke.
Kelly has his eyes on his next competition: powerlifting at the Tennessee Summer Games at Lipscomb University.
For those who compete, Kelly has some inspiration to share.
"One of my teams got a ribbon, and they didn't place for a medal and they were upset. I went over and I hugged them after and I told them just do what I do, just go out there and have fun. Don't even care about the medals because it'll take the stress away. The next day, they actually went out and placed in a medal, all happy and stuff. So I would definitely say just go and have fun," he told Knox News.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Corryton's Johnny Kelly wins gold at Special Olympics World Winter Games
Continue reading...
Kelly left the U.S. for Italy on March 5 and competed first in the giant slalom, winning a silver medal. He missed gold by a tenth of a second on a course that forces snowboarders to navigate a series of poles.
His next competition was slalom, for which he won his first gold medal of the Winter Olympic Games. He went on to win a second gold medal in the Super G, another form of slalom.
Kelly was thrilled to win three medals, but the best part was being reunited with fellow competitors from other parts of the United States.
Despite just missing the gold in the giant slalom, Kelly said that event was his favorite.
"It's funny because I've been telling people that my favorite race was actually the one that I got silver in. That was the one I had the most fun in," Kelly said.
How is Kelly celebrating his win, and what's next him?
Gina Legg, a Special Olympics coach and longtime supporter, monitored Kelly's competitions and was thrilled at his successes.
"I was actually working on my tractor with a friend of mine, and I just had to stop because I was screaming and jumping up and down when he won his first gold and calling everyone I knew, although Johnny tricked me and he's going to pay the price for it," Legg told Knox News.
When Legg heard from a Special Olympics official that Kelly had won a gold medal, she texted Kelly to ask and he mischievously told her he had only gotten eighth place.
Legg was frantically trying to find out what had happened when Kelly texted, "Just kidding," and sent a picture of his gold medal.
Legg decided to host a surprise party to "get him back" for the joke.
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Kelly has his eyes on his next competition: powerlifting at the Tennessee Summer Games at Lipscomb University.
For those who compete, Kelly has some inspiration to share.
"One of my teams got a ribbon, and they didn't place for a medal and they were upset. I went over and I hugged them after and I told them just do what I do, just go out there and have fun. Don't even care about the medals because it'll take the stress away. The next day, they actually went out and placed in a medal, all happy and stuff. So I would definitely say just go and have fun," he told Knox News.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Corryton's Johnny Kelly wins gold at Special Olympics World Winter Games
Continue reading...
