The IW athletics team, which won 13 of the 18 IW medals won in Aland last week.
ISLAND GAMESIW ATHLETES are still on a high after returning from the 13th Natwest Island Games in Aland, Finland, with 18 medals on Sunday.
The biannual competition, which is one of the largest participation events in the world behind the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, ended with a rain-soaked closing ceremony on Saturday.
But nothing could wipe the smiles from the IW team as they finished 11th in the medals table, two places higher than Rhodes two years ago.
As well as great displays of sporting skill and medal glory, there were also stories of triumph over adversity and gutsy displays against much higher competition.
All four of the IW’s gold medals came from the athletics track, with Andy Frost getting the ball rolling in the men’s hammer. More glory followed in the women’s javelin for Helen Davis, in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase for Tom Wade and in the men’s triple jump from Matt Barton.
Silver medals were secured by Joe Wade, in the 800m and 1,500m, by Richard Talbot in the laser radial and by the IW sailing team and, perhaps most surprisingly, by 17-year-old swimmer Mikael Popov in the 100m breaststroke.
And among the eight bronze medals won by the IW team, there were some real surprises.
Faith Norster’s third place in the women’s 100m was a bolt from the blue, and no one was more surprised to win bronze than swimmer Rosie Gard, in the women’s 100m medley, and half-marathon runner Paul Cameron.
The pair, who had both tried to win medals at previous games, proved persistence pays off.
After the team’s triumphant return, IW Council chief executive Steve Beynon congratulated the athletes.
He said: "I offer my congratulations to every athlete who has given their all representing the Island on this international stage.
"Once again the IW has demonstrated it has some top sporting talent. We now have the honour of hosting the NatWest International Island Games in 2011 in the year before the Olympics take place in London.
"Preparations are well underway and we are already looking forward to the 2011 games being the best and biggest yet."
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk