Local resident Noah Cichon (right), shown with his volunteer chaperone Ron Linares, was a winner in the recent Special Olympics Spring Games.

West Loop resident Noah Cichon participated in the 41st annual Special Olympics Spring Games, held recently in Chicago. More than 2,500 athletes from 100 local parks and agencies from all over the city competed in track and field events, joined by more than 900 coaches and chaperones and nearly 500 volunteers each day.

Cichon was one of 50 athletes from the Piotrowski Pirates, based in Piotrowski Park on 31st Street, who competed. The Pirates took first place in the opening day parade competition with their pirate ship float (complete with crow’s nest), which they carried onto the field.

The track and field athletes were divided into age and ability groups for the competition. Cichon won first place gold medals in his two events, the 25-meter assisted run and the softball throw.

Gold medal winners are invited to go to Illinois State University’s campus in Normal, IL, for the state competition. Winners in each state then go on to the national games.

Cichon, a parishioner at Notre Dame de Chicago Parish, was accompanied by his volunteer chaperone, Ron Linares, another local resident. For the past four years Linares has taken Cichon to lunch and a movie several times a month; he also participates in fundraisers for Cichon’s workshop, St. Rose.

Linares “is always looking for any way that he can improve Noah’s life,” said Noah Cichon’s father, Ron Cichon. “He does this because in his heart he is a helper. It has been a huge gift to Karen and me, and Noah loves his time with Ron.”