DELROY Sullivan is seemingly not a man of many words.

But the 51-year-old Jamaican bocce player wanted one thing clear at the just-ended Special Olympics World Summer Games.

“I feel good about the gold medal. This is for my mother,” he said in demonstrative fashion, dedicating the weighty golden prize dangling from his neck to the memory of his mother, whom he lost before making the trip to the United Arab Emirates.

He told the Jamaica Observer that he and his mother, May Phillips, had a close relationship right up to her death at age 96.

Sullivan, who generally utilises assistance to walk, created waves at the March 14-21 Summer Games.

No doubt empowered by the spirit of the woman who took him into this world, and guided by Coach Cislyn Shirley, he displayed determination, strength, skill and high levels of concentration to claim gold in his division in bocce singles inside Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

It was a fantasy-like experience for Sullivan, a man who earns a living from farming and one debuting at an international Special Olympics event. He soaked in the fans’ acclaim — a star in bocce, which is a sport of Italian that which involves underarming a ball at a target to gain points.

Sullivan, from Albert Town, Trelawny, isn’t the only native of that parish through whom the spotlight was directed on Jamaica. Olympic Games gold medallists Veronica Campbell Brown and Usain Bolt — both mega icons globally — also hail from Trelawny.

Sullivan was ecstatic about his achievement.

“I’m really feeling good. I’m proud of myself, [and] I’m proud of what I did for Jamaica — to be the champion,” he declared triumphantly.

He partnered with Pamela Brown in the doubles category for a creditable bronze. And Brown also had individual success to capture silver in her division.

Their three medals contributed to Jamaica’s 33 at the 2019 Special Olympics showpiece, the country’s greatest haul in history.

It was a powerful show on the biggest stage, one that Sullivan and his peers are openly proud of, and they have all right to be.

The Special Olympics movement aims to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities. It empowers people with intellectual disabilities by promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect around the world.