Brandon VanSickle, Dylan Armstrong and Crystal Cochrane are excited to wear the red and white overseas.
The trio will compete for Team Canada at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi from March 14 to 21.
VanSickle, 26 and Armstrong, 26, will play soccer while Cochrane, 33, is a 10-pin bowler.
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“It’s a big opportunity and it’s once in a lifetime. We may not get to go again,” said VanSickle. “My heart is big at the moment. I’m really excited.”
VanSickle has known Armstrong for several years. They play on the same soccer team and won gold at the National Games in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, in the summer.
“It’s a big thing for me. I’ve been in Special Olympics for 15 years. I’ve been playing soccer since I was a little kid,” said Armstrong. “If we win, we can say we won together.”
All three are competing in their first World Games.
READ MORE: Chasing gold: Montreal athlete Sara Daigle set for 2019 Special Olympics
Cochrane began bowling six years ago at Lakeview Bowl in Peterborough.
She has won medals at both the provincial and national levels.
“It feels special that we can represent Canada,” said Cochrane. “Feels wonderful to go over there to show my skills in bowling.”
“We’re ready and we want to win gold.”
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