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A Jersey gymnast recently scooped four medals after competing at the Special Olympics World Games – and a slice of King Charles III's birthday cake.
Chloe Russell, who works as at Mont à l’Abbé Secondary School and trains at Jersey Special Gymnastics Club, earned four podium finishes in artistic gymnastics at the Berlin-based event.
She won the gold medal in the uneven bars and beam events in her division, Level 2. She also won a silver medal on the floor exercise and a bronze on vault, as well as placing fifth in the all-around.
The Special Olympics World Games are the flagship event for Special Olympics sports, aimed at athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Within the event, athletes are separated into different categories or divisions, where they are matched up with athletes of the same gender, similar age, and similar competitive ability.
Pictured: Chloe with her medal haul. ( (Ken Hanrahan-Smith @Katz Wizkas Photography)
Chloe said she wanted people with disabilities not to limit themselves. “I just want to reach out to all people with a disability to let them know that we are #unbeatabletogether,” she added, echoing the Berlin World Games’ motto.
“Don’t limit yourself and reach your goals and dreams.”
She said Mont à l’Abbé School "have been really supportive throughout the whole journey”.
Having started gymnastics at the age of six, competing at the Special Olympics World Games was Chloe's ambition.
Pictured: Chloe works as a teaching assistant at Mont A L'Abbe school, where she started her gymnastics career aged 6.
“After many years of applications this has finally become a reality for me in 2023,” she said.
Chloe added: “I have trained hard for this event as I have both physical and intellectual disabilities.
“I have amazing support from my allocated coaches for the event and I have met five other gymnasts and bonded with them over the past few months and the two weeks we were away."
Pictured: The Special Olympics World Games in Berlin hosted 7,000 athletes from around 190 countries. (Ken Hanrahan-Smith @Katz Wizkas Photography)
While winning medals was a dream come true for Chloe, the experience of participating in the World Games was "amazing" and "empowering" for other reasons.
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Pictured - top: Chloe Russell was awarded silver on floor (Ken Hanrahan-Smith @Katz Wizkas Photography)
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