VICTORY POSE. With hands raised in triumph, Mandaue athletes and their coach share their joy in the office of Mayor Jonas Cortes after competing in the Special Olympics World Summer Games. From left, coach Carolina Ambray, Jesabelle Cristy Mistula, Gia Gestopa, Mizzel Dawa, Filbert Canete, Catherine Alexandra Managay, Merasol Cutamora and Maria Delia Minoza, coach and principal of Mandaue City Central SPED School. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)
Six athletes from Mandaue City proudly showed their medals won as members of the Philippine Team to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in the United States.
They paid a courtesy call yesterday on Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, who thanked them for bringing honor to the city.
“Mandaue City truly has homegrown talents. I challenge them to develop more and shine where they can excel,” he said.
Cortes also announced that he was giving each athlete a P5,000 cash gift.
The athletes from Mandaue City Central SPED School came with their coaches, Carolina Ambray and Maria Delia Miñoza.
They brought their 15 medals — five gold, seven silver and three bronze — which they had won in the competition abroad.
Catherine Alexandra Managay won a gold medal in the 100-meter run, a silver in the 200-meter run, another silver in the dance sport competition and a bronze medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Merasol Cutamora got a silver medal in the 200-meter run and a bronze medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Gia Gestopa won a gold medal in the running long jump, a silver medal in the dance sport competition and a bronze medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Filbert Cañete won two gold medals in the single men and unified double badminton and a silver medal in the mixed double.
Jesabelle Cristy Mistula also received a silver medal in the mixed doubles for badminton while Mizzel Dawa won a gold medal in the 25-meter freestyle swimming competition.
On behalf of the atheltes, Dawa, the swimmer thanked the mayor for his support.
According to coach Miñoza, the students benefitted from a special fund allocation from the Mandaue city government for their air fare to the United States.
The Philippine Team has a 36 athletes and 14 coaches.
The team won a total of 24 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze medals in the World Games.
In 2019, the next Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Mexico.