Sheila Strikes Again

7 October 2007

In the middle of a cheerful crowd, all eyes were turned to one athlete, Sheila Lawrie. The shy and modest 53 year old, from Port Elgin, Canada, had just won yet another gold medal at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. She already had one from the 100-meter freestyle, and now she had just won the 100-meter backstroke. In between poses for photos and family time, Lawrie looks delighted with another dream come true. Sheila Lawrie's proud family was there to support her as she won two gold medals in aquatics at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai. [Photos by Bianca Cole] “Only last year she won two golds, two silvers and a bronze at the Special Olympics [Canada] Summer Games at Brandon,” said her brother Ken Lawrie. The photographers asked another gold medal-winning Canadian athlete, 18-year-old Michael Milligan, to pose with Lawrie. Because of their height difference, Milligan kneeled beside Sheila for the photos. The rising star smiled next to the legend. After her 20-year Special Olympics career, Lawrie is still going strong. She works for the Salvation Army and for a local day care center four mornings a week. She also goes horseback riding and plays bowling, curling and floor hockey. “She is very busy,” her brother said before returning to the group of cheering family members. Special Olympics Canada's Michael Milligan, 18, and Sheila Lawrie, 53, both won gold medals in aquatics. The Lawrie family, consisting of Ken, his wife Ann and their daughter Rachel, as well as Bill and his wife, Gwen, are in Shanghai to support Sheila, though they are far from being her only fans. When she won her first gold medal in these World Games, it was broadcast on the local radio station back in Canada. One of the proud listeners was Sheila's 87-year-old mom. “She would have been here if it weren't for the long flight,” said Ken. By Bianca Cola and Morten Skjaeveland Photos by Bianca Cola Check out other 2007 World Games news.