Thirty-one Romanian athletes with or without intellectual disabilities participated in the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games hosted by Berlin from June 17 to 25, where they won a total of 43 medals. They competed in nine events and claimed 18 gold medals, 18 silver, and 7 bronze.

The Special Olympics World Games are the world's largest inclusive sports event, and Germany hosted the event for the first time this year.

Romania's Special Olympics team won the most medals in Artistic Gymnastics - 12 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze. In Athletics, they grabbed 2 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, while in Swimming, they claimed 1 gold and 3 bronze medals.

Romanian athletes also won 2 silver medals in the Tennis event, 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze in the Judo competition, and 1 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze in the Roller skating contest.

Another silver medal was won in the Bocce competition, while the 3x3 basketball team claimed one bronze medal. 

More details are available here.

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci, Special Olympics global ambassador, stood by the Romanian athletes at the opening ceremony at the Olympia Stadium in Berlin and encouraged them during the first days of the competition.

In total, 7,000 athletes from over 190 countries participated in this edition organized in Berlin, competing in 26 sports.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Special Olympics Romania)