Today at the World Winter Games – March 21
McCormick Claims Gold, Tutsch 7th on Difficult Day at Rorhmoos
On what appears to have been a very difficult day on the mountain in Rohrmoos, Austria, Louisville’s Kelly McCormick persevered to claim the first gold medal for Kentucky skiers at the 2017 World Winter Games in the giant slalom today. Lexington’s Patrick Tutsch was seventh in his division of the event.
Times across the board were higher than in qualifying yesterday in Rorhmoos, and that was no different for McCormick and Tutsch. McCormick posted a total time of 6:40.26 for her two runs, but that was enough to hold off Erica Ramo of Finland and Rosa Ucendo Martinez of Spain. It is 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.
Tutsch was seventh in his giant slalom division in a two-run time of 7:36.68 after a blistering qualifying run yesterday. Enoc Laborda of Spain took the gold medal in his division. Tutsch claimed a bronze medal on Sunday in the Super G.
This ends competition for both McCormick and Tutsch. They will participate in the closing ceremony with the Special Olympics USA team on Friday in Graz, and return to Louisville International Airport on Saturday.
The 2017 World Winter Games are bringing together more than 2,500 athletes from 170 countries. This is 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].