Campbell River’s blazin’ Hazen Meade reached the podium twice at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Korea.
He finished racing last Sunday and ran a personal best in each of his race categories.
Meade ran the 800 metre final in 3:21 and placed fifth overall. His relay team ran the 4 X 400 Relay Final in 6:35 and placed third overall, bringing home a World Bronze Medal.
His last final was the 1,600 m and Meade ran it in thick, fresh powder, making it very challenging, but he powered through and finished with a time of 7:11 and placed second overall, bringing home a World Silver Medal.
Campbell River’s Maureen Brinson was one of six volunteer Canadian Snowshoe Coaches who gave up their free time, and worked tirelessly for the past two weeks making sure all 17 Canadian Snowshoers were ready for their races.
They were up at 5 a.m. for breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and on a bus at 7:30 a.m. every day to head to the mountain for competition – the coaches even washed uniforms in the bathtub at night. Without his coach, Meade said he would have found the experience much more difficult and he appreciates all that Brinson has done for him.
The entire community of Campbell River and Special Olympics Campbell River have given Meade and Brinson so much support and encouragement throughout the whole process and they are both very thankful to everyone for their kind wishes and good luck messages. Campbell River Special Olympics says Meade and Brinson will return home to Campbell River on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. to a hero’s welcome.