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Special Olympian returns to Meritus
March 26, 2025 - Meritus Story
Candi Blessing, who works in the Nutrition Services Department, nabbed three medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy
After winning three medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, Candi Blessing returned to her job at Meritus Medical Center with her hardware.
The 39-year-old Smithsburg, Md., resident won silver medals in the 200 meters and relay snowshoeing events, and a gold medal in the 100 meters.
“So happy,” she said, describing how she felt standing atop the podium with her first-place win.
Candi made the trip with some help from her co-workers. The Meritus Health Foundation held a raffle fundraiser, with more than $2,300 going toward her expenses.
She has worked at Meritus for 11 years in nutrition services, but she has been competing in Special Olympics for more than 30 years. Aside from snowshoeing, her sports include athletics, basketball and floor hockey. She competed in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in athletics in New Jersey.
As for her time in Italy before the games, much of it was spent training, she said. But she and the other athletes representing Team USA did get to do a little sight-seeing, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, home of the Shroud of Turin.
But you can’t tour and train on an empty stomach. Candi said she enjoyed the meals in Turin, which included pasta, rice and pizza.
She participated in three races over several days during the games, which ran from March 8 to 15.
Her first race was the 200 meters.
“I can do it,” she said she was thinking to herself as she ran in her snowshoes against eight other competitors.
It was a little different than what she’s used to. Normally, she trains at Whitetail Resort near Mercersburg, Pa.
“There was more snow” in Italy, she said, which made it tougher to run.
While she was competing, her friends and co-workers back home were keeping up to date. Erin Warner, Candi’s program specialist with the Arc of Washington County, said she was texting Chef Joe Fleischman, head of Meritus’ Nutrition Services Department — and Candi’s boss.
For his part, Chef Joe would share the news with the staff. Meanwhile, graphics on Meritus Health’s electronic billboard on Robinwood Drive congratulated Candi and noted her medal haul.
Her co-workers were excited to see her when she started back to work this week.
“They were so happy,” she said.