More than 1,000 athletes with an intellectual disability gathered to compete in eleven different sports across four days.

Nineteen of those athletes were from the Illawarra and competed in four of the sports.

The local athletes proudly returned with nine gold medals, 12 silver medals and eight bronze medals.

They displayed extreme dedication to their chosen sport, showed great sportsmanship, made many new friends from all states and renewed many old friendships.

From Oaklands Illawarra’s swim centre, three swimmers – Aaron Cannon, Daniel Cannon and Charles McFarlane – brought home five gold medals, two silver medals and three 4th place ribbons.

Illawarra’s only tennis player, Tim Walsh, played at West Lakes Tennis Club and was awarded a silver and bronze medal.

Tenpin bowlers – Grant Francis, Shane Monks, Tiffany Churchill, West McKinnon, Peter Burke and Madison Sims – bowled their way at AMF Bowling and Laser Tag in Woodville to win six gold medals, two silvers, seven bronze medals and two 4th place ribbons.

Basketballers Dane Pritchard, Koby Banks, Luke Huska, Neb Stanojlovic, Sean McKay, Shaun Iacovelli, Tahlia Henson, Ryota Schettino and Lachlan Harley bounced home at ACR Campbelltown stadium with seven silver medals and two 4th place ribbons.

More than 900 volunteers helped to make the games a success for all athletes.

The Illawarra was fortunateto send four volunteer support workers along with the athletes and included Emily Sims, Cullam Harley ,Leanne Secomb and basketball coach Ken Jordan.

The athletes are now anxiously awaiting the announcement of the Australian team to compete in the World Special Olympic Games to be held in Abu Dhabi in March 2019.

Good luck Illawarriors!