After carrying the torch through Niagara-on-the-Lake for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games last year, local resident Carter Simpson will be on his way to Calgary to participate in Special Olympics winter version next year.
A Special Olympian, the 29-year-old Simpson won a silver medal in alpine skiing at the 2011 Provincial Winter Games and captured multiple medals in track and field at the 2017 Provincial Summer Games.
Simpson was named to Team Ontario and will compete in alpine skiing in next year’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games, to kick off in Calgary, Alberta on February 27. More than 1,250 athletes, coaches, friends and family members are expected to attend the five-week event.
Carter’s parents, AnnLiz and Mike, were away attending the Tour de France when they got the email that Carter’s performance at a provincial competition had earned him a spot on the team. They planned to keep it a secret until they could tell Carter, who was staying with some family friends back in Sault Ste. Marie, where he grew up, while his parents were in Europe.
“But someone from his West Niagara team posted it on Facebook,” laments AnnLiz, “and of course he saw it. He started Facetiming everyone to tell them about it, he couldn’t contain his excitement.”
Carter, who also swims competitively, is a natural on the ski hill. AnnLiz and Mike, as well as Carter’s brothers, are all skiers. While living in Sault Ste. Marie, Carter trained at Searchmont Ski Resort, where he was the only Special Olympian on the team.
When the family moved to NOTL, he was able to find a spot on Milton’s ski team. AnnLiz points out that though the hills in Milton aren’t as challenging as at Searchmont, Carter is able to now work with three dedicated coaches and ski with between five and eight other Special Olympics athletes.
“He’s actually improved so much since we moved down here,” she tells The Local. “Even though the hills in Milton are smaller than Searchmont’s, he’s improved his time so much.”
Carter will be competing in both the giant slalom and slalom events in February.
Alpine skiing is one of eight sports at the 2024 Special Olympics, along with five-pin bowling, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing and speed skating.
AnnLiz and Mike will make the trip out to Calgary with their son, along with his brothers.
“And we have friends out there in Calgary, so there will be a larger cheering squad out there for him. He’s so, so excited about this.”
