[ad_1]
Supplied
Kiwi golden girl Lynett Williams, flanked by Iceland’s Maria Sigurjonsdottir, left, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Kadafie Anthony.
Southlander Lynett Williams is taking home four medals after an exceptional performance at the Special Olympics World Summer Games (WSG) in Berlin.
Powerlifter Williams won a gold, two silvers and a bronze in the over 84kg class on what is being called Super Saturday.
Williams said she had “a dream” to go to the WSG one day and win a gold medal in Powerlifting, and as she took out the gold she told her coach Sonia Manaena, “I did it Coach”, “I am proud”.
Williams is a multi-sport athlete with Special Olympics Southland Rowing as well, and her Special Olympic Rowing Coach Dave Galbraith supported her by setting a cardio programme for powerlifting on the journey to Berlin.
READ MORE:
* Bocce player claims first kiwi gold at Special Olympics
* Southland powerlifter off to Special Olympics World Summer Games
* Dame Valerie Adams’ drought-breaking gold in Beijing among memorable moments
Manaena said Williams’ squats were her best to date.
“Her benchpress was again focused and the support from the American spotter loader official from the World Summer Games gave her confidence,” she said.
“The gold winning deadlift we call our ‘Happy place’.
“Lynett lifted with speed off the floor with chest locked in to the top with eyes up achieving that golden dream.”
Two other Kiwi athletes claimed golds on Super Saturday, with sprinter Melissa Cash and tenpin bowler Len Just also claiming top honours.
The New Zealand team won a record 5 gold, 17 silver and 12 bronze medals to bring home 34 medals over the nine-day-long competition, which ended on Sunday. That was two more than the previous record set at the Abu Dhabi World Summer Games four years ago.
The Special Olympics is a competition for athletes from around the world with intellectual disabilities.
Kiwi athletes snapped up three gold, four silver and two bronze medals in the space of a few hours on Saturday (European time).
A New Zealand Olympics team spokesperson said Williams faced “some huge competition from strong Icelandic lifter Maria Sigurjonsdottir who was a whopping 22.5kg ahead of Williams in the opening squat.”
However, the Southlander lifted 105kg in the deadlift event, where she claimed gold, he said.
“In bench-press though, both lifters were pipped by Kadafie Anthony from Trinidad and Tobago who grabbed an unexpected gold.
“In the overall rankings, the three scores for Williams were enough to claim the overall silver,” he said.
The closing ceremony for the games was held at the Brandenburg Gate on Sunday night local time.
[ad_2]