SELINSGROVE -- It was a hero’s welcome home for a woman in Snyder County Tuesday night, who captured two medals in the Special Olympics World Summer Games last week.
Amanda Swazey of Selinsgrove won both the gold and silver medals in the equestrian competition in Los Angeles.
“Amanda Swazey, who is the proud winner of a silver and gold medal in the Special Olympics World Games,” said Kay Spigelmyer, announcing from the gazebo at Pump Park in Selinsgrove. “Amanda will you join me on stage please, and please notice she has her medals on!”
For 33-year-old Amanda Swazey, this was her time to shine.
Her home community of Selinsgrove welcomed her home with a hero`s reception after she won two medals in the Special Olympics World Summer Games last week.
Amanda was honored at one of the summer concerts at a park in the borough.
“It was awesome!” exclaimed Amanda.
Amanda first won a silver medal, then a gold in the equestrian competition at the Special Olympics in Los Angeles, competing against athletes from all around the world.
It was an emotional day for her family, watching the wins from the stands.
“On Wednesday, when she was the very first competitor, the first competitor up and did equitation and got a silver in that,” said Amanda’s mother, Arden Miller. “And then got a gold in working trails on the last day, that was so wonderful and she was beaming up there, just beaming and we were just shrieking in the crowd.”
“She worked really hard. She learned a lot. She developed some good skills. She lucked out getting a wonderful horse in California,” said Amanda’s father, Roy Swazey.
Kay Spigelmyer is in charge of the concerts in the park and wanted to do this for Amanda.
“I would have done anything to get her down here to just recognize her and tell her how proud we are of her and happy for her because she was able to do what she wanted to do,” said Spigelmyer.
And her community is proud to share in this moment of glory with her.
“We followed her on the computer and had a good time following her, very proud of her, our local person,” said Fritz Frost.
“Congratulations Amanda, we are happy for you and very proud of you as you represented Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania,” said Spigelmyer, presenting Amanda with a bouquet of flowers.
