BORDERS tennis ace Lucy Porteous has once again been flying the flag for the region when she joined 10 other Special Olympics athletes from across Great Britain to take part in the official London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Lucy was nominated as an Olympic Torchbearer through Coca-Cola’s Future Flames campaign, which is shining a spotlight on inspirational and outstanding individuals.
The athletes set off as a group from Haverfordwest and completed a section of the leg that finished in Aberystwyth, Wales.
The leg was on day eight of the 70-day relay building up to the Games. The athletes received fantastic support from the local residents and their family and friends.
Lucy, from Stichill, is used to the limelight and has made many appearances at sporting events near and far since winning two gold medals at last year’s Special Olympics World Summer Games which took place in Athens. But the 23-year-old admitted that the torch relay was one of her biggest moments in sport so far.
She told TheSouthern: “We travelled forever to get there from Scotland. I felt like a star with all the cameras and people cheering, it was fantastic.
“Special Olympics gives me something to aim for with all the different competitions and medals. I get a sense of achievement and get to meet new friends.”
The 10 Special Olympians were chosen in recognition of the passion that they demonstrate everyday for sport.
Karen Wallin, COE Special Olympics Great Britain – a charity that provides adults and children who have intellectual disabilities with a year-round programme of sports training and competition – added: “The athletes had a fantastic reaction whilst on the run which made the day really memorable for them.”