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’ o 6? NATIONAL WINTER GA ) o is C â€" ) ;_\ § & c c t & \)0 : <%_2 g08 c&@/ mwo C PC 4 %‘\‘ : k ._.*. Nz 3@ ye4 _ TeamOnario . ; Photo by Barb McKay Kim Hunt won a silver medal in figure skating at the ® Canadian Special Olympic Winter Games last month. By Barb McKay â€" ing new people," Hunt said. in her category and secure the spending money," said Deb STAFF WRIMTER 2¢¢ 4 L Getting on the airplane was a _ silver medal â€" something she Roloson of Woodstock Special . little intimidating. She was never dreamed she would do. Olympics. Hunt brought home WOODSTOCK â€" Kim Hunt â€" travellingacrossthecountry on _ She returned home with the a few souveniors, including a has come a long way from the â€" her own with people she had _ medal, ateamjerseyand jacket. . bracelet. first time she put on a pair of â€" never met before. "I was basically surprised," St. Patrick‘s Catholic School, figure skates and stepped onto : "It was scary atfirst, butthen _ she said of her reaction to the whereshe was a student, held a the ice. it was OK," Hunt said. ‘ _ news. "I was happy." . Tâ€"shirt day and raised about Hunt returned from the To prepare for the games, A shy girl, Hunt was able to _ $150. Canadian Special Olympic Huntpractised twiceaweekfor â€" come out of her shell a bit on When asked about the supâ€" Winter Games last month months® at the Embro _ the trip. She stayed in a hotel port from the community, sporting a silver medal. The 14â€" Community Centre, where she with dozens of other young Huntbeamed. «yearâ€"old earned the second is a member of the Embro _ athletes and even attended two "It was nice," she said. . highest spot in dance and _ Skating Club. dances. > Hunt took up figure skating placed fifth in the division A "We went through her eleâ€" She had more than enough _ justsixyears ago and has develâ€" free skate competition. . > ments and solos," said her. timeto connectwithherteamâ€" oped into a star competitor Hunt qualified for the games coach, Heather Beynen. "She â€" mates after being confined to who regularly brings home â€" held in Charlottetown, PE.I. _ just got better and better." the hotel for a day when amasâ€" _ medals. But Hunt isn‘t one to Feb. 16â€"21 â€" by winning gold Huntjoined 16 other athletes _ sive snow storm paralyzed the trumpet her successes. Skating at the provincials last â€" from across Ontario to comâ€" â€" east coast and practices were is something she practises for November in Barrie. pete at the Winter Games. She â€" cancelled. pure enjoyment. The trip to PE.I. presented a _ was even selected as the flag "We played games and all "It‘s something to keep my number of firsts for the bearerforthe team and proudâ€" â€" thatstuf®," Huntsaid.â€"~ > â€"â€"> mind on," she said. # Woodstock residentâ€" her first ly carried the provincial flag â€" Hunt received plenty of supâ€" * ‘Beynen said Hunt has been time away from home on her around theiceasherteam was port from back home for her dedicated to the sport for as own, her first time on an airâ€" introduced. venture. Her high school, St. longasshe‘s been coachingher. plane, her first time to the east ‘It was a little scary," she Mary‘s, held a . fundraising "She‘s very hard working. She coast and her first time comâ€" _ said. * breakfast in January and raised _ knows what she needs to work peting in a national competiâ€" Despite the tough competiâ€" $170. â€" s* c on," she said. "She always has a tion. It was exhilarating. tion, Hunt performed well "One of the stipulations was smile on her face. She‘s an "My favourite part was seeâ€" enough to beat out fourskaters she had to use some of it for _ enjoyable person to teach."