Team Manitoba has found its way to the top of the podium in several sports at the Canada Summer Games, including its first gold medals. As of Thursday, Manitoba has claimed 12 medals in the games in Newfoundland and Labrador. All three of Manitoba’s gold medals have been in swimming events, with the most recent happening Wednesday. Teagen Ann Purvis won her second gold medal in swimming, finishing first in the 50m Special Olympics Women’s backstroke event. She previously won a gold medal Tuesday in the 100m backstroke in the same event and has also claimed a silver in the 50m breaststroke. Maxine Lavitt has also claimed two gold medals in swimming. She won gold in the breaststroke in the para women’s category and silver in the backstroke category. Other silver medallists include Ben Purvis (swimming 50m backstroke Special Olympics men) and Luke Enns (kayak 200m). Purvis also claimed a bronze medal in the men’s 100m backstroke Special Olympics category. Manitoba athletes also claimed bronze in the kayak events, with Aleksander Seremak medaling in the 200m race and William Wintoniw winning in the 5,000m category.
