Saskatoon man wins two golds at Special Olympics World Games

Saskatoon’s Ian Cushon has returned to his hometown as a two-time Special Olympics World Games champion.

Cushon represented Canada at the Games in Berlin last month, earning a pair of gold medals in the men’s singles and doubles 10-pin bowling events. He also placed fourth in the team event.

“When he was nine, he started five-pin bowling. He did that for quite a while, and 15 years ago he switched to 10-pin bowling,” said Ian’s mother, Janice Cushon.

“He switched to 10-pin bowling because if you (play) five-pin bowling, the furthest you can go in the Special Olympics is the national Games. Five-pin bowling is only a Canadian game – and to get to worlds, you have to go through 10-pin bowling.”

In order to achieve his goal of getting to the World Games, Cushon made the switch and dedicated a lot of time to improving his craft.

Janice said bowling is something Ian has always loved to do.

“He would bowl every day if I took him,” she said. “He bowls three or four times a week.”

Cushon bowls out of Hunter’s Eastview Bowl in Saskatoon.

His coach, Ruth Exley, said because of Cushon’s work ethic and commitment, she hasn’t really had to do much coaching.

“I (coach) 10-pin mainly, because I bowled 10-pin all of my life in England. When I came over here (to Canada), it was mainly something I just kept doing. With Ian, I haven’t been teaching him very much. He just loves the sport so much, I just let him do his own thing,” Exley explained.

“He doesn’t know what the word ‘pressure’ means – (he) has no idea what that means – and he just loves it and gets on with it,” Exley added. “He’s very good, and the other guys watch him as well, which is wonderful.”

Janice said she couldn’t be more proud of her son and his achievements.

“I’m extremely proud. I was over the moon,” she said, “I didn’t go to Germany, so I had to wait for the results on the computer.”

Because of the size of the bowling alley in Germany, no live stream was set up to broadcast the tournament.

Cushon wasn’t the only Special Olympics athlete from Saskatchewan to have success at this year’s Games in Berlin.

Aaron Higgins from Regina won three silver medals and a bronze medal in powerlifting events.

Regina’s McKenzie Millar helped Canada to a silver medal in women’s basketball, while Steven Saman helped lead the Canadian men’s basketball team to gold.

Regina’s Taylor Carter picked up a gold medal in the men’s nine-hole golf tournament.

Terra Dagenais of Saskatoon earned a bronze medal in women’s soccer.

Swift Current swimmer Tyler Servant won a gold medal with Canada’s entry in the 4×50-metre medley relay.

Regina runner Vanessa Gebert earned a bronze as part of Canada’s 4x100m relay team.