A JERSEY gymnast who took home four medals from the Special Olympics World Games hopes her success can inspire others with disabilities not to limit themselves.
Chloe Russell claimed four podium finishes in Berlin – winning gold in the uneven bars and beam events in her division as well as claiming silver in the floor exercise event and a bronze on the vault.
The event was the 16th edition of the Games, the world’s largest for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, with over 7,000 athletes taking part from 190 nations across 26 sports. The first Games was held in Chicago in 1968 but is only one part of the Special Olympics organisation that gives people with disabilities the chance to compete at an elite level and promote diversity in sport.
Within the event, athletes are separated into different categories or divisions, where they are matched with athletes of the same gender, similar age, and similar competitive ability.
The 23-year-old has ataxic cerebral palsy, which affects her fine motor skills and speech. She has been involved with Jersey Special Gymnastics Club since she was six and works at Mont à l’Abbé Secondary School.
Russell said: ‘I just want to reach out to all people with a disability to let them know that we are #unbeatabletogether,’ echoing the Berlin World Games’ motto.
‘Don’t limit yourself and reach your goals and dreams.’
She added that Mont à l’Abbé has ‘been really supportive throughout the whole journey’ as she completed her goal of competing in the Special Olympics World Games.
‘After many years of application this has finally become a reality for me in 2023,’ she said. ‘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.
‘I have met new friends from across the globe, I have met with dignitaries and had an invite to the British Embassy in Berlin and had a piece of King Charles’ birthday cake.’
Russell followed in the footsteps of four other gymnasts from Jersey to have competed in the Games – Aaron Bonnar, Jessica Vieira, Caileigh Quail and Matthew Kirkland – who won multiple medals in Abu Dhabi four years ago.
