Lexi McCue Wins Gold at USA Special Olympics

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Levy County Commissioners had the rare privilege Tuesday of meeting a three-time gold medalist.

Lexi McCue, a Williston resident, won gold medals in Equitation, Dressage and the Trail in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games held in Orlando June 3-12.

“She was gone the whole week long without family members,” said Sandy Arbour of Tomorrow’s Equestrian Center in Morriston where Lexi learned how to ride horses.

“I was partying the whole time,” Lexi quickly added, drawing smiles from commissioners and the crowd.

Lexi represented Levy County and Florida in the equestrian competition. Levy County participated in only one event and Lexi was its representative.

She was introduced by Commissioner Matt Brooks at the board meeting. He described Lexi as someone who “has done the unimaginable,” bringing home three gold medals to Levy County.

Lexi learned her horse-riding skills at Tomorrow’s Equestrian Center, a therapeutic riding center and one of two facilities in the state that doesn’t charge its riders and has no paid staff.

The equestrian center provides therapeutic riding to disabled individuals with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.

“Lexi started therapeutic riding lessons just a few months after a double lung transplant in 2016 at Shands Hospital,” said Arbour. “She also deals with high anxiety and high functioning autism.”

The USA Special Olympics featured 5,500 athletes from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.

Arbour described Lexi as advanced in her riding in the regional and state Special Olympics for the last five years, with her most recent accomplishment representing Levy County and Florida at the USA Games in Orlando.

“We’re very proud of Lexi and the accomplishments she’s made riding at Tomorrow’s Equestrian Center,” Arbour said.