From June 17 to 25, 2023, the Special Olympics World Games took place in Berlin and for the first time in Germany, and Sophie Nichols of Watchem was thrilled to be able to compete.

The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sports event, where thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together with the aim of achieving greater recognition and social participation of people with intellectual disabilities in our society.

Sophie, at only 19 years old and having just finished school, competed in special Olympics Australia national game on October 2022 in Launceston and won her level, subsequently getting an offer to join the Australian team for world games in Berlin.

It’s effort well-recognised, as Sophie has been doing gymnastics for the past ten years, and has worked with the special Olympics club Melbourne Inner East for the last four.

Sophie is the daughter of Peter and Robin Nichols, and the granddaughter of David and the late Margaret Nichols,  and initially started gymnastics as she wanted to be like her big sister Tayla.

All the kids at Sophie’s gymnastics classes love her and are super proud of how far Sophie has come.

Huge Adventure She had to fly to Berlin for the June 12 start of the Games, and was greeted by a  crowd of over 7,000 other athletes.

With Sophie staying at a  hotel with her fellow competitors instead of her family, it was a huge adventure.

Athletes of 169 different countries were in attendance,  creating a brilliantly colourful atmosphere.

The first day, athletes were placed into different divisions depending on their individual scores in a preliminary competition.

Sophie, placing eleventh overall in the day one competition, was in a  higher division on most apparatuses.

Medals Competing against 28 other people, Sophie was thrilled to take home the overall gold for her division! This wasn’t the only medal she received though, taking the gold for floor as well as the silver for vault.

She also placed fourth for beam, and fifth for bars – an astounding effort! Sophie immensely enjoyed her adventure and was, rightfully, ecstatic at the outcome.

She will undoubtedly continue to pursue her love of gymnastics in further Special Olympics, showing that she truly is #unbeatabletogether.

“It’s great to be part of Special Olympics and train for events that I can look forward to,” said Sophie.

“I am really motivated to keep training and do well.

I am so proud to be part of Team Australia!”

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 4 July 2023.