Local Athlete named to Special Olympics Team Canada Training Squad 2025

Moriah Van’t Land, an athlete from Lethbridge, has been named to the Special Olympics Team Canada 2025 Training Squad. This marks the beginning of their journey to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy in 2025. This selection reflects Moriah's outstanding commitment in figure skating, but also her determination to overcome challenges to reach this level of achievement.

Moriah has been a shining example of perseverance within her community, inspiring others with her passion and dedication to reaching their goals. Her selection to Team Canada’s 2025 Training Squad is a testament to her hard work and the support of her coaches, teammates, and the community.

The Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin will give Moriah an international stage to showcase her talents, competing with athletes from around the world and building friendships that cross borders. This amazing opportunity highlights Moriah's accomplishments while celebrating the inclusive, transformative power of sports, reminding us of the incredible potential in every individual, no matter their background or ability.

Special Olympics World Games take place every two years and alternate between Summer and Winter Games, a schedule similar to the Olympics and Paralympics. Attracting as many as 350,000 volunteers and coaches, plus several thousands of athletes, these World Games can be the world's largest sporting event of the year. Turin, Italy will host the 12th World Winter Games in March 2025. It will mark the first time that Italy has hosted the Special Olympics World Games. Canada hosted the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 1997.

Bursting with pride, Olea Taboulchanas, Lethbridge Skating Club coach, and Team Alberta Special Olympics coach, said, “Moriah is a hard working charismatic athlete that likes to perform and joke around. Having the opportunity to go to provincials and nationals made her understand fully what a goal is and how hard work can achieve it. She was motivated to continue working hard with the goal of making it to worlds in Italy.”

As the only athlete from our area, and the only figure skater from Alberta to be named to the team, the Lethbridge community stands behind Moriah, cheering every step of the way as she chases her dreams on the world stage.

The full announcement from Special Olympics Canada, including the full roster of 91 athletes, 24 coaches, 5 mission staff, 14 team leadership members and an honorary coach, can be found here: https://www.specialolympics.ca...

Moriah, her coach, and her parents are available to the media. Please contact Tanya Whipple to make arrangements.