Two young gymnasts from County Down have returned from the Special Olympics Summer Games in Dublin with an exceptional medal haul of nine golds and one silver.

Autumn McMillen, 17, from Newtownards, won five gold medals in Level 3 artistic gymnastics - beam, bars, floor, vault and all-around. Aryana Greer, 11, from Comber, claimed four golds in Level 2 beam, bars, floor and all-around, plus a silver in the vault.

Both competed for Team Ulster. Autumn is a student at South Eastern Regional College and has autism and ADHD. Aryana, who has a learning delay caused by hyperinsulinism, will start year eight at Nendrum College in September.

The Games also served as a qualifier for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile. Autumn meets the age eligibility for selection, while Aryana is below the minimum age.

Following the competition, the gymnasts were invited to a Stormont reception marking 30 years of the PSNI and An Garda Síochána Torch Run. They met Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons.

Aryana’s mother, Kerry Greer, who accompanied the athletes as Team Ulster chaperone, said the girls delivered their best performances against adult competitors. She noted that Ulster, though one of the smallest regions, achieved one of the largest medal totals, and that their conduct and sportsmanship stood out.