New Brunswick

Canney strikes gold at Special Olympics World Games

The 22-year-old athlete won a gold medal in the 1,500-metre freestyle event at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi Sunday.

Fredericton swimmer placed first by more than three and a half minutes

Jesse Canney has won gold in the 1,500 metre freestyle at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. (Submitted by Pam Moxon)

Fredericton swimmer Jesse Canney just keeps adding to his trophy case.

The 22-year-old athlete won a gold medal Sunday in the 1,500-metre freestyle event at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi.

It is the second medal for Canney at the Games after taking silver in the 400-metre freestyle on Friday.

Canney had a winning time of 17:53.49. He defeated Great Britain's Ciaran Kelly by three minutes and 37 seconds for the victory in the 1,500.

He has two more opportunities to win a medal. He'll compete in the 4x100-metre relay on Monday and the 800-metre freestyle event on Tuesday.

Canney started training at the age of seven after being diagnosed with non-verbal autism.