Manitobans golden on global stage

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This article was published 28/06/2023 (888 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While one half of Regan Hofley was reeling from severe jet lag Tuesday morning, the other half of the three-time gold medallist was still buzzing after another outstanding performance on the world stage.

Hofley, 23, returned to her home in La Salle late on Monday two medals richer after capturing gold in the women’s 800-metre event and bronze in women’s mini-javelin at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin last week.

It was the first time Hofley, who won two gold medals in athletics at the 2019 World Games in Dubai as a 19-year-old, competed in the 800m race on the world stage.

Despite owning some uncertainty about how she would fare heading into her debut, her results were remarkable.

Hofley shaved 16 seconds off her top training time in the final race, setting a personal best of 2:44.24 and winning the top prize by more than two seconds.

“When I went to run the 800-metre final, I was up against two other girls from Tunisia and (Nippon). They gave me the push I needed, just enough,” said Hofley, adding the competition at the 2023 World Games was even more fierce than when she competed in 2019.

“It was a very close race but it was amazing. It was so surreal when I realized I had (set a personal best) and taken home the gold in the top division. I was so mind-boggled, I never thought in a million years that I’d be coming home with a gold medal in that event.”

Hofley’s patience was tested over the last four years as she trained incessantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, unsure of when her next chance would come to see how she stacks up against the best in the world. She entered Berlin as confident as ever, though, certain her work would pay off.

“In my 800 and mini-javelin, I did exactly what I wanted to do,” she said. “I had full belief in my ability and I ended up coming home with two amazing medals.”

Hofley said she will take the summer off before resuming training in the fall in hopes of returning to the World Games again in four years.

Hofley wasn’t alone in her travels from Manitoba to Germany’s capital. Winnipegger Jennifer Adams made her third appearance at the Special Olympics World Games and left with a gold medal in women’s doubles bocce.

“It was great to be there and representing Canada,” said an equally jet-lagged Adams, who returned home overnight on Tuesday. “The venue was so gorgeous and it was just really exciting to be a part of Team Canada.

“There was so much excitement when I won the gold. I was hugging my partner and I was hugging my coach. I was really excited about it.”

Adams, 43, said she’ll stick to her training routine and will try to carry her newfound momentum into the Special Olympics Regina bocce tournament in July. She’s competed with the Special Olympics since she was 14 years old and has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

“Hopefully, I will try to make it for the upcoming Olympics (in four years). It would be a fun experience to go again,” she said.

The hoorah of the Special Olympics is a bit deeper than the hardware for Hofley and Adams. Both Manitoba athletes deal with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and both said they believe the Special Olympics have given them opportunities to flourish in their own way.

“Special Olympics is so important to me because it’s given me a place where I can be myself,” said Hofley, who joined the Special Olympics in 2008. “Special Olympics has given people like us a place where we can be ourselves and a place where belong and not be judged by other people. It also gives us an opportunity to be able to be like everyone else and be in front of the whole world and show the world who we are and what we have to offer.

“All I can say is, to the athletes who have not made the World Games yet, don’t give up if you really want it. Anything is possible if you believe you can do something and the World Games are absolutely an incredible experience and I encourage others who want to make the team to follow their dreams.”

Added Adams: “I like the training and I like the structure — getting up in the morning and doing my best. I just want to say thank you to the Special Olympics for the opportunity.”

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam