Rochdale golfer wins gold at Special Olympics World Summer Games 2023

Yasmin Booth

Yasmin Booth, from Rochdale, has won a gold medal at the Special Olympics World Games 2023, currently being held in Berlin.

15-year-old Yasmin, who represents Special Olympics Greater Manchester, competed in the golf event over two days on 21 and 22 June 2023, fighting off competition from all over the world to claim a gold medal.

Special Olympics GB provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities in the UK. This year, it has 82 athletes representing 17 sports at the games, the world’s largest inclusive sporting event in 2023 with more than 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities competing across 26 sports over nine days.

Yasmin's mum Liz Birkbeck said after her win: "I woke up this morning after dreaming about my daughter winning gold in Berlin to realise it was true! I have a gold medal winning daughter, I am proud beyond words."

The year 10 Crompton House pupil comes from a long line of golfers including great grandmother Mary Quarmby, who won numerous board prizes at Pike Fold Golf Club, and grandparents Lynn and Bob Birkbeck who have both been captains at Rochdale Golf Club.

Explaining the aims of the Special Olympics, Liz said: "Everyone on this journey, being a coach, organisation, the team management, parents and athletes are part of one of the most amazing movements, changing perceptions of people with Intellectual Development Disability’s (IDD). This whole event is to level the playing field, showing what is possible when your values begin with inclusivity."

Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB, said: “We are absolutely thrilled for Yasmin. This is a remarkable achievement, from an exceptional athlete and person.

“Each one of our competitors has defied all odds to partake in these games and to come away with a medal caps a monumental accomplishment. They have undoubtedly brought immense pride to themselves, their family and their nation.”

The Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games aims to achieve a permanent change of consciousness for an inclusive society, through the unified power of the Special Olympics movement and all athletes worldwide. In doing so, it encourages that we can do so much more together than alone, and that we are ‘unbeatable together.’

The Special Olympics World Games is the largest inclusive sports event of 2023. It’s the first time Germany has hosted the games, and the aim of the Games is to help achieve greater recognition and social participation of people with intellectual disabilities.

The Special Olympics GB team is part be funded by the fundraising efforts of Jingle Jam, created in 2011 by one of the most-followed YouTube gaming channels, Yogscast, and recognised as the world’s largest charity gaming even. In addition, the unified football team is being supported by the League Managers Association (LMA).