Shelby St-Hilaire brings home two silvers from Special Olympics World Games
By William Crooks
Shelby St-Hilaire returned from the 2025 Special Olympics World Games in Turin, Italy, with two silver medals and a wealth of experience from competing on the world stage. The skier from the Eastern Townships represented Canada in alpine events, taking second place in both the Super-G and slalom competitions.
“It was an amazing experience,” St-Hilaire said. “I got fourth place in one of my events, which I was furious about, but then I bounced back and won two silvers.”
The Special Olympics World Games brought together 90 Canadian athletes who competed in various winter sports, securing an impressive haul of 116 medals. Beyond the competition, the Games were a celebration of connection, camaraderie, and personal achievement. For St-Hilaire, the journey to Italy started long before stepping onto the slopes.
Preparation and travel
The process began with a staging camp in Toronto, where athletes were introduced to Italian culture and etiquette before heading overseas. “We went to an Italian cathedral in Toronto and learned about what to do and what not to do in Italy,” St-Hilaire said. “No elbows on the table, no ketchup on pizza, and definitely no pineapple.”
From Toronto, the team flew to Frankfurt, Germany, before continuing to Milan and then by bus to Turin. The first week in Italy was spent acclimating, and the second week took them to Sestriere, where the ski competitions were held. “The ski hill was right on the border,” he noted. “If you took the gondola up, you were on the French side. If you stayed in Sestriere, you were in Italy.”
Competing against the world’s best
St-Hilaire competed in the advanced M2 division, facing top athletes from Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States. He credits his performance to diligent preparation and a bold strategy. “One of my coaches thought I wasn’t ready for a jump start, but I took the risk, and it turned out to be a good move.”
A jump start in skiing involves positioning on one’s knees, edging toward the bump, and pushing off aggressively to gain speed at the beginning of a race. The strategy paid off, helping him secure two podium finishes. “The key to my success was studying,” St-Hilaire explained. “I talked to my coaches in Quebec, got some advice, and applied it. It worked.”
