'Skill and the talent': Manitobans enjoy medal haul at Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy

With 11 medals and counting, Manitoban athletes are taking over Italy's Piedmont Region with the largest delegation from the province so far at the Special Olympics World Winter Games. 

More than 1,500 athletes with cognitive delays, intellectual and developemental disabilities,e  from 100 delegations have been competing in eight sports at the Games, running from March 8 until Saturday in Turin, Italy.

Nine Manitobans are among this year's Team Canada delegation, including Brita Hall, from Winnipeg. 

"I'm so excited that I can I'm out here and ski, that I can do what I can do … and getting medals," Hall told CBC News Friday. 

Hall added two silver medals to Team Canada's count after finishing second in the 5K and 7.5K free technique competitions in her division.

Shawn Jesse, an assistant coach at the Special Olympics, has been training with Hall at the Games, picking up on the work from her Winnipeg coach.

"She was able to bring her best to these Games," Jesse said. "She works really hard … not only on skis." 

During off-season, Hall picked up track running to stay in shape before the ski season, when she joined two training camps and participated in other competitions leading up to the Special Olympics. 

"It's been very busy," Jesse said. "It's been a long two weeks, athletes competed hard." 

Hall is one of nine Manitobans on Team Canada, the largest delegation the province has ever sent to the Winter Games — a "huge achievement" for Special Olympics Manitoba.

WATCH | Nine Manitobans among 90 Canadian athletes competing at Special Olympics Winter Games:

Nine Manitobans among 90 Canadian athletes competing at Special Olympics Winter Games

"Manitobans have such a strength to them … athletes are determined and