Special Olympics – It’s a dream come true for Sebastian Gylander, who returned home from Turin, Italy, with two gold medals he won at the Special Olympics World Winter Games (SOWWG). Friends, family, teammates, town counselors and coaches gathered to welcome him at St. Paul’s Church on March 20.
Surrounded by smiling faces and proud coaches, Gylander wore his two gold medals while he greeted people from the community who showed up to congratulate him at the warm welcome-home event. One gold medal he won in the Relay event at the SOWWG and the other he won in the 7.5 km Skate Ski event. Gylander said he won the best time in all his events at the SOWWG.
“After I won my first gold medal, I was like, ‘somebody pinch me,’” he said. Gylander said he enjoyed seeing new things and eating the food while he was in Turin, Italy. He competed with about 20 other athletes for Special Olympics Team Canada (SOTC).
Town Councillor Joy Guyot spoke to over 50 people who gathered in the yard at the church to celebrate Gylander and acknowledge his achievement.
“Sebastian has proven once again that hard work and dedication can lead to extraordinary consequences … your dreams have come true, Sebastian … you are a true champion setting an example for the youth of our community,” she said during a welcome home speech on behalf of the Town of Golden.
Joan Dolinsky and former Nordic Ski coach for the Special Olympics Team in Golden, B.C., Jeff Dolinsky, for Gylander who recently stepped down from his role, attended the games in Turin, Italy to support Gylander. Dolinsky shared his experience watching Gylander compete in the Relays.
“It was a diverse group who had never competed together before. Sebastian came in really fast (passing other athletes in the last 200 meters of the race) … he pulled the Canadian team from 8th place to the gold. It was the most exciting finish I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Gylander thanked everyone for their support, “I couldn’t have done it without you all.”
With the SOWWG over and the ski season ending for the time being, Gylander says he’s going to “keep doing his thing.”
As a coach and mentor for other athletes who hope to one day win a gold medal at the SOWWG, Gylander gives them this advice: “You gotta work really hard and want it.”
The SOWWG took place from March 8 to March 16. The theme for the SOWWG in 2025 was “strength of kindness.” Special Olympics Board Chairman, Dr. Tim Shriver, said, “These athletes want to change your life and make you more joyful, tougher and braver than you ever imagined. Let them rub off on you! They will not fail.”
With a community of supporters behind him, Gylander has inspired his fellow athletes, his coaches and his family.
Through his dedication, hard work and love for the local landscape, he brings a community together. When attending a Special Olympics event either locally or away, you can see the joy, the toughness and the courage of the athletes, and that inspiration helps everyone feel the strength of kindness.
