Olds Special Olympian Mark Mengersen is excited -- and working hard as he prepares to compete in the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games next year.
As the Albertan reported earlier, Mengersen, 34, is one of 15 Albertans named to the 109-member Canadian team that will compete in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates March 14-21.
Mengersen is part of the 10-pin bowling team.
It's the first Special Olympics World Games hosted in the Middle East-North Africa region since the movement was founded 50 years ago.
His mom, Karen, says there's a reason the Summer Games are being held there in March. At that time of year the average temperature is 28 C, compared to more than 42 C in the summer.
Mengersen qualified as a result of a dominating performance in the Special Olympics Canada Bowling Championships, held in Charlottetown, P.E.I and 2018 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S. this past summer.
During the bowling championships, Mengersen won gold in singles and gold overall in his division as well as silver in team competition and doubles.
In his last game, he bowled 60 points over his average.
At one point, he got six strikes in a row.
"He had a groove in the alley," Karen said with a laugh.
To prepare for the World Summer Games, Mengersen has been bowling at least once a week. Last week, he began ramping that up to twice a week and will continue that schedule until he leaves for Abu Dhabi.
In addition, he works out at the gym six days a week.
On Oct. 18 Mengersen and the rest of Team Alberta will head to a training camp in Ontario. They're expected to be there for about six days.
Mengersen is pumped to go to Abu Dhabi and show the rest of the world what he can do.
"I'm gonna bring back medals," he said with a big smile.
Mengersen competes in 12 sports.
"Since September I started bowling and started swimming and I started soccer now and now I'm starting (rhythmic) gymnastics and floor hockey," he said.
He believes those different sports help make him stronger and strengthen him for bowling.
Mengersen is also one of eight current and former Olds residents who will carry the torch Jan. 31 as it goes through the community on its way to Red Deer for the Canada Winter Games, which take place there Feb. 15-March 3, 2019.
He sees that as a feather in his cap as well.
"On my computer I watched the torch relay pass through Olds in 2010 for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games; now I'm going to do it," he said.
