Skier celebrates double bronze

Special Olympic Skier home from South Korea with double bronze

by Chris Halpin

A Special Olympic skier from Worcestershire has returned home from the World Winter Games with two bronze medals.

Clare Lines, who's 29, was successful in the Slalom and the Super G events.

The games are held every four years and give people with learning disabilities the chance to compete on the world stage.

Special Olympics GB entered the Alpine Ski category, and won 13 medals in total, including the two bronze achieved by Clare from Redditch.

Clare lines on the podium in South Korea Credit: ITV Central

This year's event was held in PyeongChang, with 107 countries taking part.

Candy Wragg was the Head of Delegation for Special Olympics GB, and thinks the opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to compete at international level brings rewards to all those involved.

"A lot of these families you know, there have been a lot of problems that they've needed to overcome and to see your son or daughter competing at that level and doing so well is just amazing."

– Candy Wragg, Special Olympics GB
Clare (Right) with the father Alan (Middle) and her kit supplier Clive (Left) Credit: ITV Central

Clare's father Alan Lines went to South Korea to watch his daughter compete. He said seeing her on the podium filled him with pride.

"It was quite an emotional rollercoaster really because you know skiing hasn't come easy to Clare over the years, it was case of holding back the tears most of the time, when she was confirmed that she'd won the first bronze medal"

– Alan Lines, Clare's father
Clare in action on the slopes in South Korea Credit: ITV Central

One person who helped Clare get there is Clive McGloughlin.

He runs a ski shop in Penkridge in Staffordshire and supplies the kit to the entire British Team.

It costs around £1000 to kit out each member of the squad for tailored racing gear.

He's been involved for eight years and finds working with the athletes really rewarding,

Clive McGoughlin runs White Mountain Ski in Penkridge Credit: ITV Central

"It's not the business advantage, it's actually helping somebody fulfill their goals, watching someone from a young age come through to a state when they're actually winning medals. It makes us feel very, very proud."

– Clive McGoughlin, White Mountain Ski

After this year's success, it's hoped the best is yet to come for Clare and the rest of the team, with the countdown on for the next World Winter games in 2018.