Mat-Su duo dynamic at world games

MAT-SU — Winning isn’t everything, but it sure feels good.

Two Mat-Su Valley swimmers are bringing home a gold and numerous bronze medals following a long nine days of competition at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.

Their wins came as no surprise to their coach, Jackie Smith. “Wow. That’s all I can say,” Smith said.

Jeremy Hartman of Palmer won a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle relay and a bronze in the 25-meter backstroke. Melanie Flowers of Wasilla won two bronze medals for her performances in the 100-meter relay with a team time of 1:54:00, and in the 50-meter backstroke in 1:44:23.

Flowers and Hartman competed against swimmers from five other countries in two timed heats that saw winners emerge from the final heat. Both were making their return trip from the games, which ended Friday, and were not immediately available for comment.

Smith is a coach for Mat-Su Special Olympics and has been training medal-winning competitors for more than 20 years. Flowers and Hartman trained for their time in China since February.

“I’m very proud of my team,” she said. “We compete so well. We did a national competition back in 2006 and those swimmers come from the Valley too.”

The opening ceremony for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai was held Oct. 2 as athletes competed in various sporting events for nine days of stiff competition. Overall, four athletes from Alaska made the long trip for the games. Bobby Hill of Eagle River won four silver medals in the powerlifting events and Whitney Davis of Juneau placed fourth in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Hartman and Flowers trained with Smith at the Wasilla Pool, sometimes for many hours a day.

To earn a spot in a world Special Olympics event, a competitor must win a gold in heats on a state level. Then names are drawn (one male and one female ) from a pool of 45 to 50 winning athletes.

The Alaska Special Olympics team was scheduled to fly home Saturday afternoon into Anchorage.

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.