Homecoming for golden girl Vikki

by Paddy Walsh

Vikki McGill with her parents Michael and Carol as they celebrate in Germany.

The Golden Girl returns! Back from Berlin and the Special Olympics World Games with a coveted gold medal draped around her neck.

And greeting her at the Donegal Community Inclusion Services hub on Thursday morning in Letterkenny her fellow service users and an equally emotional and enthusiastic staff.

For Vikki McGill, a member of the Irish basketball team who claimed gold, it was an experience that will live long in the memory – along with the memories of her mum and dad, Carol and Michael, who accompanied her to Germany on the trek of a lifetime.

“Fantastic,” Vikki hails the experience.

The Kilmacrennan woman, who spent the first twenty years of her life in Letterkenny – so both towns can share in the glory! – has arrived back to loud acclaim and is accepting the congratulations of all at the hub as she reflects on her gold medal winning achievement.

“Everybody was so helpful. We spent two weeks there and it was just great from start to finish.” And particularly that finish on the basketball court.

“If you were stuck for something like phone coverage they got it sorted for you.”

And for the participants and their families, there was so much more.

“We got free passes for the buses, free train travel. And we had a family room with tea and coffee and everything.”

Anne O’Brien makes a presentation to Vikki McGill at the homecoming.

As for the basketball and the winning of the gold medal, nothing could have surpassed that particular experience.

The team played a number of qualifying games including a match against Azerbaijan that they lost. But revenge would come in the Final when the Irish faced those very same opponents.

“I got on the court for the final minute. And the next thing, the whistle blew and we screamed: ‘We won, we won!”. It was a brilliant experience and one I’ll never forget.”

An experience, Vikki would like to repeat if she ever gets the chance. “The next one’s in Australia – it would be great to go there.”

But for now she holds a cherished medal from the Special Olympics World Games.

For her parents it was an experience, they too, won’t forget. “When they won my heart leapt into my mouth,” says Michael. An emotion shared by Carol.

He refers to the training involved and the fact that the teams were playing on full-sized courts. And the relentless training that got them there.

“We have to thank the coaches and the chaperones and everybody else involved. There were 175 countries taking part with 7,500 athletes but the organisation was absolutely amazing.”

Adds Michael: “The whole thing was a great experience all round – a fabulous family experience as well.

“We were so well looked after the entire time we were there and the people could not have been nicer.”

Or more helpful as one story truly demonstrates. “We went to a Sub-4 to ask directions and this young lad in his late twenties or early thirties said to us: ‘I’ll tell you what, I’ll show you what to do’. So he took us to the bus station, got on the bus with us. Stayed on the bus with us, took us to the train station, stayed on the train with us until we reached the departure point where we changed for the train to take us to the stadium. And then he went back to his work.

“It was amazing , the kindness and the thoughtfulness. We just couldn’t get over it.”

And, of course, there was the friendliness of the other nationalities attending the World Games.

“Berlin truly embraced us. We met people from Toga, Japan, Canada, Australia and everybody was hugging one another and looking after each other.”

And many more hugs to follow for Vikki McGill when she arrived back at the hub in Letterkenny to receive the praises of all assembled and a bouquet of flowers for the woman, not just of the hour, but of the year, “I’m very happy now – I’ve got the gold,” Vikki exclaims.

And she closely clutches the medal to that happiest of hearts.

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