Carson City athletes medal at Special Olympics

Michael LaBracque struck gold at this year's Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho.

The Carson City athlete took first place in the 200-meter snowshoe race.

"It was hard," he said. "I thought I came in second. When I found out I got gold, I felt awesome. I'm very proud of myself."

LaBracque, 27, also received a silver medal in the 4-by-400 snowshoe relay.

Four more medals were captured by competitors from the capital city as well. Married couple Shawn and Colleen Stainbrook won two silver and two bronze medals between them.

Colleen, 33, won a silver medal in the 100-meter snowshoe races and the 4-by-400-meter relay.

That brought her total to three, after capturing the gold two years ago in the 400-meter walk. That year, she also took home a fourth-place ribbon in shot put.

"The reason I do Special Olympics is to keep in shape, meet new friends and have a good time," she said.

Her husband of 15 years, Shawn, 42, won two bronze medals in cross county skiing events.

The athletes were among 300 who attended the weeklong winter games as part of Team USA on Feb. 7-13. They joined more than 2,500 Special Olympians representing more than 100 countries.

The athletes qualified at the Special Olympics Nevada Winter championship games hosted at Kirkwood Ski Resort last year. The names of all gold medal winners are compiled and then randomly selected for World Games competition.

Although basking in their glory, the athletes do not have time to rest. They are each training for walking and running events in the 2011 Summer Games in Greece.

Every Monday and Wednesday evening, they join about 13 power lifting teammates to work out at Power House Gym.

Coach Barron Lauderbaugh trains them in the dead lift, squats and bench press events of power lifting meets, but is flexible when athletes are getting ready to compete in other events.

"If they're training for something different, we adjust it a little bit, some days going for the lighter weights and more repetition," he said. "We want to make them stronger but not bulk them up in the wrong areas."

Lauderbaugh, whose brother was a Special Olympic athlete who died at 16, has been volunteering as a coach for 28 years.

"It's in my blood. I can't stop," he said. "These guys' grinning faces keep me going."

Working with the athletes gives him a different perspective.

"Everybody has limitations," he said. "Some are mental, some are physical. The thing with Special Olympics is you get to see people try to overcome these limitations. Often they do."

- Contact reporter Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1272.

On the Net

For details about Special Olympics in Nevada, go to www.SONV.org.