A big well done to Eugene McGeever from Asda Strabane who will be representing Ireland in three different sports at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi next March.
Eugene, who’s 42 and has a learning disability, excels at football, basketball and kayaking.
He’s worked in the store’s grocery department for 14 years and last year won the ‘Sports Star of the Year with a disability’ award at the Derry and Strabane Sports Awards.
Bill McIntyre, head coach of Strabane Special Olympics Club, said: “Eugene will be a good ambassador for us. He had to qualify for places in all three sports, and he also won a gold medal at a regional event in kayaking. He is into his sport in a big way.
“Asda has been very supportive in recently allowing our club in to the store for a fundraising drive. That was vital to allow us to support all of our athletes.”
His mum Pat said: “Obviously I’m very proud of him. He’s been kayaking for a few years and really enjoys that in particular.”
The store’s community champion Matthew Tracey said: “We’re all very proud of Eugene – to be picked for the team in three different sports is absolutely amazing, a brilliant achievement.
“We will all be supporting him next year. Eugene’s very popular with colleagues and customers. He’s very humble – the first I knew about it was when Strabane Special Olympics Club came in to the store to fundraise and they mentioned it.”
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