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(KSL News) -- Kudos to Utah's Special Olympic athletes. They just returned home from a national competition with 47 medals!
They spent the past week in Ames, Iowa competing against more than 3,500 other athletes.
There were a lot of smiles at Salt Lake International today, as Utah Special Olympics athletes arrived home with medals around their necks. They competed against athletes from all 50 states in the 2006 USA National Games, and they cleaned up!
Family and friends of these special loved ones aren't used to being separated.
Khris Mooney, Special Olympian's Mother: "It's been too quiet without him."
Khris Mooney's son went to Iowa along with 34 other athletes to compete in the first-ever National Special Olympics Games.
James Mooney, Bronze Medal Winner: "I was the goalie."
James helped the soccer team make a comeback and surprise everyone with a bronze medal win.
James Mooney, Bronze Medal Winner: "They couldn't score at all."
Utah's athletes competed in 7 sporting events�ranging from Basketball, Bocce Ball to bowling and medaled in every event.
Rochelle Deeter , Utah Special Olympics: "Not only the competitions but meeting people from all over the United States and making great new friends, dancing every night."
The athletes had plenty to do while not on the playing field, from fireworks on the Fourth, music and dancing at the opening and closing ceremonies, even tossing the ball around with professional athletes.
Aaron Cox, Special Olympian: "Kurt Warner, I saw him got his autograph, got pictures of him."
Aaron Cox participated in a contest with NFL's Kurt Warner and says he even got to dance with his wife.
Aaron Cox, Special Olympian: "I danced with his wife. I did one of those dip things and accidentally dropped her."
Even though this was the first year for the event, it seems to already be a hit.
Rochelle Deeter, Utah Special Olympics: "They all want to come back. The questions I got every morning is, 'We going to do this again next year?'"
The National competition took place at Iowa State University, with the help of more than 8,000 volunteers, 2,000 coaches and 12,000 family members.
