In just two months, athletes Caitlyn Gunn, 23, of Newburgh and Jackie Contino, 17, of Bangor will make the trip to Idaho and surrounding areas for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

But first, they are heading to Copper Mountain, Colo., for a five-day training camp Dec. 3-7.

Gunn is a speed skater who has been involved in Special Olympics for 18 years. She also competes in swimming, basketball and track and field.

Although she works full time in the child care industry, Gunn still finds time to stay actively involved in Special Olympics, The Maine Disabilities Council and Global Messengers, a program in which she is an ambassador for Special Olympics Maine.

Gunn can speak American Sign Language and enjoys horseback riding. In high school she was able to earn her varsity letter for her involvement in Special Olympics Maine.

She said she is really looking forward to making new friends during the trip and competing at the World Games level.

In 2001, Gunn represented Maine at the World Games in Alaska.

Jackie Contino is a 17-year-old athlete from Bangor. She will compete at the World Games in alpine skiing, but also enjoys swimming, basketball, bowling and track and field.

Contino is a current member of the Bangor High School Swim Team, the YMCA and her church.

In 2007-2008 her swim team became the Class A State Swim Champions.

Contino also has been a frequent recipient of Camper of the Week recognition at the YMCA and was awarded the 2004 D.A.R.E. Certificate of Achievement.

She said she was looking forward to taking a trip on her own, representing her hometown and making many new friends.

Other athletes representing Team USA-Maine are:

. Joshua Brosious, 17, cross-country skier, Hartford.

. Dalton Kinney, snowshoeing, Nobleboro.

Team Maine also will send coaches Duane Hall and Bernie Oster in snowshoeing and Ian Frank for snowboarding.

For Team USA, consisting of 355 athletes and 85 coaches, plus management team members, the training camp is the first official time many of the athletes will meet their World Games coach and other U.S. athletes who will join them on their trip to World Games.

The camp will offer a variety of coaches’ meetings and sport-specific training in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, snowshoe racing and speed skating.

Athletes and coaches will participate in team-building activities. Featured events include an Idaho Night with information about the games’ host state.

Also during camp, athletes from Team USA will be fitted for their uniforms and have sport-specific photos taken.

This will be the ninth Special Olympics World Winter Games, uniting nearly 3,000 athletes from 100 countries for competition Feb. 7-13, 2009.

Sponsors include Bank of America, Sage Hospitality, American Federation of Teachers, North American Police Ski Championships, Columbia Sportswear and Gear for Sports.

For information on Team USA, visit www.specialolympicsteamusa.org or find additional World Games information at www.2009worldgames.org/

For information on Special Olympics Maine, call 879-0489 or contact SOMEemail@aol.com