Fayetteville athlete wins gold medal at Special Olympics

Mary Borman is honored after winning a gold medal in stand up paddleboard at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Fla.

Special Olympics Arkansas

Fayetteville’s Mary Borman took home a gold medal in stand up paddleboard at the Special Olympics USA Games held June 5-12 in Orlando, Fla.

Borman finished with a time of 23 minutes and 14 seconds in the 1,600-meter Level 3 event.

Borman, 23, had never tried stand up paddleboard before she be began training for the Special Olympics, her mother told KNWA in a news report.

Borman’s award was one of 143 medals secured by the Special Olympics Arkansas team this year.

The Arkansas team won a total of 39 gold medals, including five in tennis, which is a sport the team had not competed in before 2022.

Special Olympics Arkansas brought home 56 silver medals and 48 bronze medals. There were seven Arkansas athletes who placed 4th, eight who placed 5th, 12 who placed 6th, seven who placed 7th and one who placed 8th.