Special Olympics Switzerland's snowboarding team won the first medals of the Games: (left-right) Remo Vogt (silver), Sven Glor (gold) and Dario Hartmann (bronze).
First Medals of the Games Awarded
Special Olympics Switzerland swept the gold, sliver and bronze medals in the snowboarding advanced giant slalom competition on 9 February 2009. The first medals of the 2009 World Winter Games marked the start of competition in the largest sporting event to be held in Idaho this year.
The snowboarding competition took place on Dollar Mountain in Sun Valley, Idaho. Sven Gloor, 27, took the gold medal, with his teammates Remo Vogt, 16, and Dario Hartmann, 20, taking the silver and bronze, respectively.
Olympic medalists Scott Hamilton and Billy Kidd presented the gold medal to Gloor; Jim and Pirie Grossman, co-chairs of the 2009 World Winter Games, presented the silver to Vogt; and Special Olympics President and Chief Operating Officer Brady Lum presented the bronze to Hartmann.
Snowboarding competition continues through 13 February in Sun Valley. Athletes at the 2009 World Winter Games also are competing in Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing and speed skating. Competition results are available on the 2009 World Games Web site, and athlete photos and videos are available on live.specialolympics.org.