Tijana McCarthy is off to Berlin for the Special Olympics World Summer Games.

The Games take place June 17-25 in the German capital.

Tijana (pronounced T-Anna), 26, will be representing Canada in Level 4 Golf.

Special Olympics Yukon CEO Serge Michaud hosted a press conference last Monday to send off McCarthy.

Michaud mentioned how special it was for McCarthy to have her cousin, Teneil Caron, to be along for the ride as her caddy.

“Tijana was able to train throughout the winter thanks to Dean Omilon giving her the use of his indoor golf practice equipment and a big thanks also to the energetic team at Northern Strength Academy who helped with her overall fitness with the dryland training program.”

Michaud said that McCarthy has been getting in as many rounds as possible at Mountain View and Meadow Lakes golf clubs since they opened.

McCarthy will be golfing at Bad Saarow, a municipality in the Oder-Spree district, in Brandenburg, Germany, starting June 19. The golf courses there include layouts designed by legendary golfers Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer.

McCarthy was given a gift bag by Special Olympics Yukon board of directors secretary Kyla Guzik.

The gift bag included a Special O fanny pack and power bank.

The next announcement Michaud made was that Special Olympics Yukon would be sending a team to the 2024 Special Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Feb. 27 to March 2.

The Special O training squad consists of 25 athletes, coaches and mission staff.

Also in attendance at the presser were five-pin bowler Bobbi-Rae Patchett and head coach Krista McKinnon, curler Kerri Rudolph and her head coach Bev Sumner and figure skater Mike Sumner.

Special O Yukon’s program director and 2024 Winter Games chef de mission Andrew Elines spoke about the upcoming Winter Games.

Elines said “Cheffing Team Yukon will never really get old for me. It’s only the second time I’ve cheffed at a national games, but the third time I’ve cheffed one of our teams. It’s absolutely one of my favourite aspects of this job. There’s few things in this world that are more impactful to me than to be able to travel with the team and watch the athletes as they train and develop and get to compete on some of the biggest stages. It is a massive honour.”

Elines said this is the biggest team that Special O Yukon will bring to a Canada Winter Games. The team includes 13 athletes on four teams including five-pin bowling, which was moved to the Winter Games, cross country skiing Owen Munroe curling and figure skating.

Elines explained what it meant to be on the training squad. The athletes are required to continue training in their sport, work hard and show commitment to the team. He said the athletes spots on the team are not guaranteed.

“You have to keep putting in the work and showing that you can be the best athlete you can be.”

Elines added, “I’m confident that the athletes elected will give it their all to represent the territory and showcase their skills at the highest level.

“Win or lose, I know this team’s going to have a memorable time together.”

Breanna Ingram of Urban Realty, Team Yukon’s sponsor for the last six years, also put in an appearance.

Guzik spoke as well.

A couple of prepared questions were then asked of each athlete.

Mike Sumner was asked if there were any particular skills he’s trying to improve.

He said he’s working hard to compete his salchow jump this year. He added he’s “looking forward to giving it his all, having fun, and wishing all the competitors best of luck.”

Rudolph was asked why she joined curling. She replied, “I wanted to prove that I can do stuff different than other people.”

McCarthy was asked what her favourite club was and she responded with “pitching wedge.”

Patchett was asked what makes her a good bowler. She gave all the credit to coach McKinnon.

Rudolph was asked how her team achieved a bronze at Provincials in 2022.

“We worked hard and communicated with each other and we did the best we could,” she replied.

Sumner gave credit to all the volunteers and coaches for helping him get to where he is today.

McCarthy said between her and her cousin Teniel, she was the better golfer.

Prichett was most looking forward to hopefully coming home with a medal from the Nationals.

“And also celebrate with my teammates. I’m pretty excited to go,” she said.

McCarthy answered that it was “four more sleeps” before she leaves for Berlin.

Rudolph said her personal goals for Nationals were “to have fun and represent the Yukon.”

Sumner said his favourite thing about figure skating was “just going out there and competing to the best of my ability and trying new jumps and spins.”

McCarthy said she was looking forward to making new friends in Germany.

And dancing.

Michaud said, “Tijana typically leads the charge when it comes to the dance party at our closing ceremonies or any Christmas party or events we’ve had.”

After the conference, Sumner’s mom Debbie was asked how her son was doing.

“He’s usually pretty good at putting in a lot of time and putting it ahead of everything else he likes to do.”

Sumner said he’s looking forward to the whole competition, including the atmosphere, and skating to the best of his ability.

Rudolph said she was looking forward to doing her best in curling. She said she was “very proud” to represent the Yukon. “Its an honour to represent Special Olympics Yukon at any games that we go to.”

Rudolph added, “Watch, go on social media and cheer for us from home.”

McKinnon said she’s been coaching the bowling program for over 10 years.

Patchett said she’s been in the program two years.

“It’s so much fun.”

McKinnon added, “The coach yells and screams and we have music on … we dance sometimes at bowling.”

She added that Matthew Profitt, who runs the Northern Lights Bowling, “makes it so much fun.”