Kentucky Athletes Claim Two Medals at World Winter Games
McCormick, Tutsch Each Medal in Austria
Just before midnight on Saturday, March 25, Kentucky skiers Kelly McCormick and Patrick Tutsch returned to Louisville from a trip that twas more than a year in the making. Each returned sporting one precious medal that they had won at the 2017 World Winter Games.
Tutsch, a World Games newcomer, was the first to earn his medal, claiming a bronze in his division of the Super G — the first alpine skiing event of the Games. He finished in 3:28.95 to place third behind Cameron Jarvis of New Zealand and Olaf Guttek of Germany
It took a second day of competition for McCormick to earn her medal, which came in the giant slalom. McCormick, who was making her third appearance in the World Winter Games, posted a combined time of 6:40.26 for her two runs to defeat Erica Ramo of Finland and Rosa Ucendo Martinez of Spain. It was the second consecutive giant slalom gold for McCormick, who also took gold in the event at the 2013 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. She won bronze in the event at the 2009 World Winter Games in Seoul, South Korea.
McCormick narrowly missed grabbing two medals at the Games. She completed her Super G run in 2:00.0, finishing less than a second behind bronze medalist Rebecca Heath of New Zealand.
Tutsch fought difficult snow conditions in what was an unseasonably warm week in Austria to finish 7th in his division of the giant slalom with a two-run time of 7:36.68.
The 2017 World Winter Games brought together more than 2,500 athletes from 170 countries. This was the second time that Austria has hosted the World Games, making it only the third city ever to host the Special Olympics World Games more than once. Schladming, Austria, which is also serving as a host site this year, hosted the 1993 Winter Games. Chicago hosted the first two Special Olympics World Games in 1968 and 1970. Los Angeles hosted the World Summer Games in 1972 and again in 2015.
For more information about Kentucky’s athletes at the World Winter Games, contact Mark Buerger, Special Olympics Kentucky Director of Communications and External Relations at 502-695-8222 or via e-mail at [email protected].