Isle of Man athletes have returned home after a successful week at the Special Olympics Gibraltar National Games.
Held at the end of June, the Manx athletes gave strong performances across athletics, football, bocce, ten‑pin bowling and swimming.
The team began competition at the Lathbury Sports Complex, where flag bearers Elizabeth Tinkler and James Heselton led the squad into the opening ceremony, followed by Thomas Unsworth carrying the Isle of Man sign.
Special Olympics
In athletics, James Heselton, aged 14, took fourth in his debut 200m race before securing a bronze later in the day. Tom Read placed sixth in the 200m and fourth in the 100m.
Tash Keig finished fourth in the 200m and later claimed silver in the 100m, while Nicola Wooldridge recorded sixth and fourth in her races. Cameron Siddall won his first Special Olympics medal with a strong 200m run, then added a bronze in the 100m.
Wesley Langton completed the 400m despite a hamstring injury, finishing seventh. The Isle of Man team also secured silver in the 4×100m relay.
In football, the squad opened with a 3–0 defeat to hosts Gibraltar, with a notable defensive display from Langton. They responded with a 4–0 win over Estapona, with goals from Langton (2), Callin and Oli Kavanagh, and a penalty save from goalkeeper Hudson.
Cameron Siddall produced a standout solo run to set up Kavanagh’s goal. The team later claimed bronze after a competitive match against Algeciras.
Ten‑pin bowling brought further success. Andrew, Elizabeth, Liam and Tom won silver in the team event with a score of 741. In doubles, Liam and Elizabeth took silver with 374 pins, while Andrew and Tom secured silver with 391.
In bocce, Nicola and Elizabeth won gold in the A Division doubles, while Tash and Liam earned silver in the B Division. The Isle of Man also collected silver in the team event.
Swimming concluded the Games, with medals across multiple events. Tash Keig won bronze in the 25m freestyle. James Heselton took silver in both the 100m and 50m freestyle.
Thomas Unsworth won gold in the 25m freestyle and later added a bronze in the 50m. Dawn secured bronze in the 25m freestyle and 25m breaststroke. Natasha earned bronze in the 50m mixed freestyle. The mixed relay team, Dawn, Thomas, Tash and James, claimed gold after a dramatic final leg from Heselton.
The Games closed with the lowering of the Special Olympics flag, and athletes later returned home following travel delays.
Special Olympics Isle of Man thanked Gibraltar’s organisers for their hospitality and the Manx public for their continued support, noting the importance of the event in preparing athletes for upcoming competitions in Sweden and the World Games in Chile.
