TWO young gymnasts from the Ards area have returned home with an incredible haul of nine gold medals and a silver after starring at the Special Olympics Summer Games in Dublin.
Autumn McMillen, from Newtownards, and Comber’s Aryana Greer were honoured at Stormont last week after their outstanding performances for Team Ulster in the women’s artistic gymnastics competition.
Between them, the pair claimed nine gold medals and one silver, with 11 year-old Aryana becoming Team Ulster’s youngest gymnast at the Games.
Seventeen-year-old Autumn, a student at South Eastern Regional College (SERC), who has autism and ADHD, won five Level 3 gold medals in the beam, bars, floor, vault and all-round competitions.
Aryana, who has a learning delay caused by hyperinsulinism and will begin year eight at Nendrum College in September, secured four Level 2 gold medals in the beam, bars, floor and all-round events, as well as a silver medal in the vault.
The Special Olympics Summer Games also served as a qualifying event for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile. Autumn is eligible for selection, while Aryana is below the age requirement.
Following their success, the gymnasts were invited to Stormont to attend a special recognition event marking the 30th anniversary of the joint PSNI and An Garda Síochána Torch Run. During the reception they met Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.
Praising the pair’s achievements, Aryana’s mother and Team Ulster chaperone, Kerry Greer, said the two girls are ‘incredible’.
“They had the performances of their lives,” she said. “It was difficult for them because they were competing against adults, but they pulled it out of the bag.”
“Although Ulster is one of the smallest regions at the Special Olympics, Autumn and Aryana came away with one of the biggest medal hauls, so they were pleased to make Ulster proud.”
“I cried with pride all weekend. Their behaviour, sportsmanship and dedication to helping other athletes who needed it was amazing. A lot of that meant more to us than winning the medals.”
