Tia Zimmerman returned home with a little extra weight around her neck following her trip with Team Canada at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The local swimmer from Englefeld won a gold medal in the 4x50 freestyle relay after winning a bronze in the 800m freestyle event. 

"I was very busy and extremely nervous, it was really fun there, but I'm also glad to be back," said Zimmerman.

The team finished with a time of 3 minutes 8 seconds in the 4x50 relay, 7 seconds ahead of second place Korea, and 33 seconds ahead of the bronze medal Austrailians. In her bronze medal, 800m freestyle swim, Zimmerman finished with a time of 18 minutes 22 seconds, just three seconds off the silver medal time. 

She competed in three events throughout the games, also picking up a fourth-place finish in the 400m, freestyle, but none trumped the feeling of winning the gold medal.  

"I can do long events, but it's a lot tougher, and in the relay, we won the gold, so that one was probably my favourite."

While at the games Zimmerman took in the culture, cuisine, and great competition, but is glad to be back home and happy to get to see her family, her friends, and her cat. 

Zimmerman plans on attending a swim meet at the end of March and then taking a well-deserved rest through the month of April.

Congratulations Tia.