Skating to the top
Courtesy photoJeramy Jones, 26, won two gold medals and a silver medal Feb. 1 for his speed-skating performance in the Special Olympics.
MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake resident Jeramy Jones, 26, sped away with three medals at a state Special Olympics competition in Wenatchee.
Jones participated in a speed skating race through Special Olympics of Washington. He received first place in his division and won two gold medals and a silver medal.
He was the only athlete from the Moses Lake Special Olympics to participate in speedskating, said his mother, Ginny Jones.
Ginny said she was "flabbergasted" by her son's performance.
"We were so excited," she said.
Ginny and Moses Lake Youth Hockey Association Coach Lyle Stoltman helped train Jeramy for the competition.
Jeramy said he decided to participate in speed skating "because track and field makes my legs hurt."
He said he plans to participate in speed skating next year and compete in a short race for track and field this year.
"I think it was awesome," said his sister, Candy Davis. "It's the first year ever doing speed skating, and he did awesome."
Ginny said Jeramy first ice skated when he was 8 years old. She remembers advising him to hold onto the walls of the ice rink, but he caught onto the activity fast.
"He just stepped on the ice and went," she said.
The three medals aren't his only athletic accomplishments earned through Special Olympics.
"He's got a whole wall full of gold and silver and bronze," Ginny said.
Jeramy has been involved with Special Olympics for 12 years.