Local athletes shine in USA Special Olympics

Northern Nevada athletes had an excellent effort at the USA Special Olympics recently held in Seattle.

Curt Allen, a 31-year-old swimmer from Gardnerville, won two gold medals for Team Nevada. Carson City’s Katie Fried, 28, also had an excellent meet in swimming, winning gold in freestyle and silver in individual medley.

Carson City’s Steve Anthony also won bronze in freestyle.

Allen, Fried and Anthony were among those who competed for Team Nevada, which had a final medal count of 13 gold, six silver and five bronze.

Nearly 4,000 athletes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia competed at the USA Games, which is held once every four years. Team Nevada was comprised of 29 Special Olympics athletes who earned the opportunity to compete in basketball, track and field, swimming and bowling.

Fifteen of the 24 medals were won by Northern Nevada athletes. Among those athletes were:

Allen, Gardnerville, Swimming; Steve Anthony, Carson City, Swimming; Ciera Barlow, Reno, Swimming; Katie Fried, Carson City, Swimming; Bryan Hatley, Minden, Swimming; Makala Acosta, Fernley, Track & Field; Ryan Allred, Elko, Track & Field; Sylleste Stone, Fernley, Track & Field; Kayelee Thomson, Fernley, Track & Field; Arran Glass, Carson City, Track & Field.