THE Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) delegation is on cloud nine after a “terrific”medal haul at the 2025 World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

The SOJ contingent, set to return to Kingston this morning, claimed three gold, two silver and two bronze for seven medals overall.

By the time the curtains came down on the Games in Italy on Saturday, Jamaican twins Dave and Dale Oddman had each won a gold, a silver, and a bronze in speed skating while the history-making floorball team had secured gold.

The overall count bettered Jamaica’s previous best at a Special Olympics World Winter Games when the country won five medals at the 2017 edition in Austria.

Shawnette Lorraine, the SOJ assistant head of delegation to Turin, gave special tribute to the Oddman duo whose mother passed away in February.

“They are excited and elated. It’s a big achievement for them, especially because they lost their mom three weeks ago,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“For Dale, it was his first time ever on ice when he got to Italy, and Dave hadn’t been on ice since the last Winter Games in 2017. Both of them each got gold, silver and bronze… we’re so proud, and I have to say the entire SOJ team was terrific,” Lorraine added.

Glendon West, the SOJ head of delegation who has immense experience being in charge of Jamaica’s teams to three previous Winter Games, was also particularly impressed by first-timer Dale.

“When [Dale] arrived in Italy… and stepped onto the ice, the bone-chilling cold was like nothing he had ever known. He shivered, feeling entirely out of his element.

“Dale Oddman, who had never set foot on ice until a few days ago, achieved the impossible. He crossed the finish line first, winning Jamaica’s first gold medal at this Olympics!” West posted on social media.

He praised the players who formed Jamaica’s first-ever floorball team at the Winter Games.

“The journey began as a dream — a vision shared by a small group of dedicated athletes, coaches and administrators who believed that Jamaica could excel in a sport that was largely unknown on the island.

“Floorball, a fast-paced indoor game similar to hockey, became their passion. With limited resources and training tirelessly on courts which were not of international standards, the Jamaican team showed determination and grit to cop the gold medal,” West said.

The Special Olympics movement aims to provide year-round training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It offers people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, experience joy, and participate in sharing gifts, skills and friendship with their families and other athletes.

The disabilities can either be acquired or genetic, and can include cases of Down’s syndrome, autism, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.

Special Olympics Jamaica Assistant Head of Delegation Shawnette Lorraine (left) and Head of Delegation Glendon West

Special Olympics Jamaica speed skaters Dale Oddman (standing, left) and his twin brother Dave (standing, right) celebrate with the medals they won during the World Winter Games in Italy. Also pictured is speed skating coach Nigel Davis.