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Nearly 220 Special Olympics athletes from North Carolina and Tennessee participated in the 2023 Special Olympics Southeast U.S. Swimming Invitational at Greensboro Aquatic Center on April 29.

Special Olympics North Carolina athletes competed from the following programs: Alamance, Buncombe, Craven, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford/Greensboro, Iredell, Lake Norman, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Orange, Stanly, Surry, Wake and Watauga.

To ensure fair competition, athletes were placed in competition divisions. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each division and ribbons were presented for fourth through eighth place. This event was sanctioned by USA Swimming, the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States. Certified USA Swimming officials officiated the meet.

Results for Stanly County athletes include:

• John Burbes: Gold medal, 50-yard freestyle; Silver, 50-yard backstroke; Gold, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Jesse Benton Edwards: Gold, 25-yard kickboard race; Fourth place, 25-yard freestyle;

• Michael Francis: Bronze, 50-yard freestyle; Gold, 50-yard backstroke; Silver, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Jonathan Martin: Gold, 50-yard freestyle; Gold, 50-yard backstroke; Silver, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Ethan Alexander Miller: Silver, 50-yard breaststroke; Bronze, 50-yard freestyle; Gold, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Braden Lee Poplin: Gold, 50-yard freestyle; Gold, 25-yard freestyle; Silver, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Harry Arthur Sisco: Gold, 50-yard backstroke; Silver, 100-yard freestyle; Gold, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Justin Loyd Watkins: Participation Ribbon, 50-yard freestyle; Gold, 100-yard freestyle; Silver, 4×25-yard freestyle relay;

• Caleb Wilson: Gold, 50-yard breaststroke; Bronze, 50-yard backstroke; Gold, 4×25-yard freestyle relay.