Thrilling final day on bocce courts

After a long final day on the bocce courts at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, only two athletes were left standing.

Hometown Medicine Hat player Nigel Zimmerman was coming from behind against British Columbia’s Patrik Lowe. With dozens in the crowd cheering him on, Zimmerman cut Lowe’s lead from 11-4 to 11-9.

But then the horn sounded, signalling no more ends could be played. The duo celebrated, talked to local media… and then were told a protest meant they’d have to wait and see if the result was indeed final.

After an hour’s wait, they played one more end, but Lowe held on for a 12-9 final and the gold medal.

“I’m very proud of what I did and how hard I worked to get here,” said Lowe, a Campbell River native. “But I also played against some very tough opponents, and it was not easy.”

“Pretty exciting to see what happens from here onwards,” said Zimmerman, alluding to the medal ceremony set for later in the day.

It was the end of an exciting day punctuated by plenty of cheers from supporters as dozens of medals were decided.

Earlier, Saskatchewan’s Tanner Svenson came from behind to win gold over B.C.’s Trevor Campese. Down 5-0, he scored 12 unanswered points to win 12-5.

“I told myself ‘just keep going, you’re going to get it eventually,” said Svenson, whose week already included a highlight of interviewing the Governor General, Louise Arbour, on Wednesday. “It’s been the most incredible experience of my life.”

There were many similar moments in the day, but the prevailing emotion was joy, win or lose.

After a week’s worth of rainy weather outside, the bocce athletes were certainly glad their competition happened in the dry confines of Big Marble Go Centre.

“It was hard at first (to play on the indoor courts) but I adapted pretty quickly,” said Lowe.

— story by Sean Rooney; Andrew Parry, producer