SEATTLE, Washington (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Seattle is the spot where thousands of American athletes have come together to compete and make new friends. The Special Olympics USA games are taking place this week, and Maine is well represented on the west coast.
32 athletes and partners are out there giving their all. Jennifer Johnson of Orono won gold in the 800 Tuesday, and bowlers Dennis Plourde of Hampden and Brandon Mullin of Lewiston won silver and bronze.
It's a bittersweet competition for the Maine team, as one of their fellow Olympians died suddenly just a few months before they traveled to the games. Daniel Scott was involved with the Special Olympics for 25 years and loved bocce. The Bocce team is Seattle is wearing purple bracelets while they compete in honor of their friend and fellow athlete.
"It's kind of hard for me especially since he and I were closest friends," says Caitlin Dunn, an athlete at the games. "Purple is also my favorite color as well. He wanted his favorite color to be purple because he knew that purple was my favorite color."
"We just miss him," says bocce coach Wendy Gilbert. "But we know that he's here, we know that he's here cheering us on."
If you'd like to cheer on the Maine team at the Special Olympics, CLICK HERE to show them some love on their Facebook Page.