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Special Olympian Danielle Blakeney wins five medals, including three golds, at World Summer Games in LA


Danielle Blakeney, far right,  with her gold medal-winning group ball team. It was one of three gold  for the Erlanger gymnast. (Photo from SOKY)

Danielle Blakeney, far right, with her gold medal-winning group ball team. It was one of three golds for the Erlanger gymnast. (Photo from SOKY)

Two Kentucky athletes – including rhythmic gymnast Danielle Blakeney of Erlanger – have already racked up gold medals at the Special Olympics’ World Summer Games this week at the University of California Los Angeles.

Blakeney claimed five medals overall, including three golds, one silver and one bronze.

The 24-year-old won gold in the ball routine with a score of 10.274, silver in the ribbon with an 8.057 mark and bronze in the clubs with a score of 9.058. She also placed fifth in the hoop with a score of 8.516. Her combined score of 35.904 was enough for the gold medal in the all-around competition, beating Melissa Escamilla of Mexico by two points.

It was the second consecutive World Games all-around Gold for Blakeney. She also won Gold at the 2011 Games in Athens.

When the individual events were complete, Blakeney added a third Gold, this time with three Special Olympics USA teammates in the group ball routine. Blakeney, performing a synchronized routine with with Rebecca Amador of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jeannie Garris of Sandia Park, New Mexico, and Amanda Reiss of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, scored a 5.032. That score edged the silver medalists from Ecuador by just .133.

Blakeney’s competition at the games is now complete.

Bowler Amanda Browning of Taylorsville will also bring home gold when she returns to Kentucky. Browning claimed her first-ever World Games Gold Medal in her first-ever try, teaming with bowlers from Louisiana, California and West Virginia to roll an 1154 series.

The World Games, which bring together thousands of athletes from around the world, continue through Friday.

From Special Olympics of Kentucky

Please see NKyTribune’s earlier story about Special Olympics and a special video about Danielle


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