MOULTRIE – There will be a “Welcome Home” parade this Friday for local gold-medalists Jayda Hughes and Jeremiah Spence and Coach Mitchell McKinney. It celebrates their accomplishments at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, last week.

The parade will take place at 5 p.m., in downtown Moultrie. After the parade, there will be an opportunity to take photos with the Olympians and their coach.

Representing the United States, Spence and Hughes both won gold medals in Alpine Skiing, in the Novice Giant Slalom event. In the Novice Super G, Spence took fourth place and Hughes took a bronze. Also, in the Slalom event, Spence took fifth place and Hughes took another bronze.

“I knew these two were good amateur skiers, but they have blown me away this week with how much they have improved. The courses are much more difficult than our hills we ski on in North Carolina, but these two were never intimidated and attacked the runs head on. It’s been an amazing experience but we are ready to head back home,” McKinney said.

More than 1,500 athletes from 102 delegations, across the world, competed in eight different sports during the games.

On Tuesday, the Colquitt County Commission and Moultrie City Council will proclaim March 21 as Jeremiah Spence, Jayda Hughes, and Mitchell McKinney Day. The trio will be presented with Keys to the City.

Residents can support the local Olympian gold-medalists and their coach by wearing red, white and blue at the parade.