Pete "Don't call him Peter" Valasek, 42, beamed as a gold medal was placed around his neck Sunday at the Special Olympics Colorado 2007 Summer Classic at Colorado Academy in Denver.

Valasek had earned the best time in one of the event's 5K bicycle time trials. He had unzipped his black jersey, so the shimmery pendant hung against his bare chest.

The Olympics theme song pumped out of a nearby speaker and the crowd cheered the athletes on the podium.

Later, Valasek recounted with a wide smile the race that landed him in the spotlight.

"I hit 23 mph back on the straightaway," he said. "I passed those two guys and they didn't even notice.

"You heard that thunder? That was me."

As he walked away, he threw his fist in the air and yelled "Yes!"

Various Special Olympics sporting events - including bocce ball, softball, golf and tennis - were held at venues across the metro area over the weekend.

Special Olympics Colorado started with a simple track meet in 1969 at Hinkley High School in Aurora but has evolved into an organization that hosts 100 annual competitions involving 22 sports and 8,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The Summer Classic is one of five major events held in Colorado each year. Hundreds of athletes and their non-intellectually disabled partners participated.

Jason Kruger, 18, of Aurora, won a fourth-place white ribbon for his time in the 5K bike race Sunday, but he won a bronze medal the previous day.

More important than medals for many of these athletes, though, are the friends and the fun.

Ethan Baber, 16, of Elizabeth, came to support Kruger even though he himself wasn't competing. The two met through Special Olympics Colorado.

"He's a good friend to support, and he supports me back," Baber said.

Kruger's mother, Joyce Kruger, said Special Olympics has helped her son and the whole family feel "part of a team."

"This is the best thing that's happened to us," she said. "He had a very hard time making friends."

Corlene Terry, of Aurora, watched proudly as her son Bryan, 29, who has epilepsy and a learning disability, stood on the podium and received a silver medal for the 5K bicycle time trials.

Bryan Terry is among eight Americans traveling to Shanghai, China, in September to compete in bowling with Special Olympics athletes from around the globe.

He's already trying to learn Chinese, his mother said.

Bryan Terry has been involved in Special Olympics Colorado events since he was 8.

"It gives you a lot of self-esteem, confidence, pride and joy," he said.

"We're all so proud of Bryan," his mother said. "He's not afraid to try things."

poppenj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5176