Family, friends celebrate Special Olympian’s win

A medal-wearing Kinna Ledger, 22, of Anchor Point was surrounded by family, friends and her coach at a party in her honor Thursday afternoon. Ledger recently returned from the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, where she won a bronze medal in cross-country ski competition. Ledger crossed the finish line of her 50-meter event with a time of 29.65. The party was held at the Homer Senior Center, where Ledger is employed. Among those celebrating were sister Paulina Baker, mother Susie Ledger, HSC executive director Keren Kelley, HSC activities-volunteer coordinator Daniel Weisser, niece Alinna, nephew J.J. and niece Larissa. Unable to attend were brother-in-law Jacob Baker and nephew Lucas. Also sharing in the celebration was Ledger’s coach Lake Brown. Traveling to PyeongChang to cheer for Ledger at the games were her mother, her aunt Dana Snyder of Oregon and Coach Brown. Kelley announced that a legislative citation honoring Ledger is being sponsored by Sen. Peter Micciche. Ledger joined three other Alaska athletes on the 151-member Team USA. Wasilla snowshoer Paul Standen won a bronze medal in his 100-meter event; Anchorage alpine skier Bryan Knight won a silver medal, a bronze medal and a fourth-place ribbon; and alpine skier Misty Cunitz, also of Anchorage, earned two fifth-place ribbons and one seventh-place ribbon. For more information on the Special Olympics World Winter Games, visit www.specialolympics.org. McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.

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