Tyler Hochwald celebrates after finishing his race in the snowshoeing category of the Special Olympics New York on Feb. 24, 2024 at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse , N.Y. (Photo by Evie Linantud)
Hundreds of athletes from across New York State gathered in Syracuse for the 2024 Special Olympics Winter Games competition on February 23-24. After a few days of temperatures in the 50s, competitors woke on Saturday to 12-degree temps requiring snowshoe runners and alpine skiers to bundle up against a stiff north wind.
Other athletes gathered indoors on ice and floor rinks for Figure Skating and Floorball, the only team sport in the Winter Games.
Several athletes from all four sports will be preparing over the next year to compete in the World Winter Games in Italy in 2025 and next year, the New York State competition returns to Rochester.
Rory Palmer spins during her performance at Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Caroline Sherman)
Special Olympic medals are brought onto the ice for the award ceremony at Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Caroline Sherman)
Tom Mack (113)waits for his turn in the Alpine Skiing Event of the Special Olympic Winter Games at Greek Peak Ski Resort in Cortland, New York. (Photo by Joseph Ciembroniewicz)
Athletes from the New York City region prepare to walk out during the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Though there was no snow to hold the showshoe races this year Syracuse wasn’t without cold temperatures in the low teens, as fans huddled under blankets and winter coats watching the snowshoe racers compete at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photos by Evie Linantud)
Italy-Bound in 2025
A few dozen winter sports athletes from New York will be representing the USA in the 2025 World Games in Turin, Italy. Figure skaters, alpine skiers, a snoeshoer and a unified floorball team will travel to Italy. All were on hand at the New York State Winter Games to hone their skills as they prepare for Worlds.
Cori Piels starts crossovers during her performance at Upstate Medical Arena at War Memorial in Syracuse, N.Y. Cori was selected to be one of the New Yorkers who will compete for Team-USA at the World Winter Games in Italy in 2025. (Photo by Caroline Sherman)
The North East Knights and the Broome Tioga Panthers compete in floorball at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. The Knights will be joining their Unified counterparts on a team that will compete for Team-USA at the World Winter Games in Italy in 2025. (Photo by Audrey Gavagan)
Coach Nancy Bellini of the North East Knights talks to one of her players following a game at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. The Italy games in 2025 will be her third time coaching in the World Games. (Photo by Audrey Gavagan)
Coaches and fans cheer as an athlete speeds through the finish line of the Special Olympics New York advanced alpine course at Greek Peak Ski Resort in Cortland, New York. (Photo by Joseph Ciembroniewicz)
Sportsmanship Key to Success
Members of the Westside Floorball team congratulate their opponents after a close match during the finals of the Winter Games. (Video by Josh Meltzer)
Athletes from the Tioga Panthers Floorball team and the City Hawks Floorball team compete at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. The teams compete in the morning to qualify for the afternoon competition.(Photo by Emma Truscott)
Emma Cahill covers her face in excitement after receiving her medal at Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Caroline Sherman)
Julia Cowley finishes her program in figure skating at War Memorial in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Travis Lacoss)
Athletes run in a preliminary snowshoe race at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kara Gildea)
Athletes queue at the Special Olympics New York advanced alpine skiing course at Greek Peak Ski Resort in Cortland, N.Y. (Photo by Joseph Ciembroniewicz)
Harry Dydo relaxes with his teammates before competing in alpine skiing later in the day. (Photo by Joseph Ciembroniewicz)
Athletes from the Almighty Pucks Floorball team exchange a fist bump as they come off the court at OnCenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Mackenzie Stevenson)
Great Tigers Snowshoe coach Stanley Van Savage ties a bib number on athlete Michelle Markhan before her race at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse, N.Y. Van Savage’s daughter has been on competing on his team for 50 years. (Photo by Kara Gildea)
Richard Fishwick, from Hudson Valley puts his snowshoes on before his race at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse, N.Y. Fishwick has been participating in Special Olympics for 10 years. (Photo by Kara Gildea)
Athletes, volunteers and coaches dance together at the party following closing ceremonies. (Photo by Joseph Ciebroniewicz)
