Brandon Herzog Brings Home the Gold

Publication Date: March 1997

Kentucky Special Olympics athlete Brandon Herzog, featured in the February issue of Extremz, won a gold medal in figure skating (Freestyle, Level 4) at the 1997 World Winter Games in Toronto, Canada. Brandon was the only Special Olympics athlete from Kentucky to compete with Team USA. The 1997 World Winter Games was the largest international multi-sport event with over 2,000 athletes from more than 90 countries participating.

Brandon's favorite memories of his Toronto trip were winning the gold medal and going to an outdoor rink with one of the Russian skaters. Former Olympic Gold Medalist, Don Jackson, first to land a triple lutz in competition, presented Brandon with his gold medal. Brandon said, "As the National Anthem played, I felt good and I was smiling."

Brandon will continue his training as he is currently a Level 4 skater and wants to move up to the next level of competition. Coach VanOrmer said, "We will work to get to Level 5 and hopefully, in four years Brandon will be doing axles, flip jumps, camel spins, lutz jumps and combinations."

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