CRANBERRY TWP — Only a pound at birth, Charles Sigmund has since surpassed that weight in gold.

Sigmund, 9, of Cranberry Township recently returned from the Pennsylvania Special Olympics state games at Penn State University with a gold medal and two bronze medals.

Standing only 4 feet tall, he is in his first year with Butler County Special Olympics and was one of 40 county athletes to participate in the state competition.

"He was definitely the youngest," said county Special Olympics manager Mary Pitzer. "It's very rare to see a first-year participant that young do so well."

Sigmund won his gold medal in the 200 meters and his bronze in the 100 meters and mini-javelin.

He had won gold medals before. At the sectional games at Clarion University April 19 — Sigmund's first competition — he won a gold medal and three silvers.

At the Butler County meet May 2, he claimed five gold medals and one silver.

"We were totally shocked," said his mother, Kathleen Sigmund. "I was hoping he might get a bronze, maybe. He loved every minute of it. He wasn't nervous at all."

Pitzer said the qualifications for competing at the state meet are what makes it rare for a young child to get there.

"You can start practicing at age 6 and you can start competing in Special Olympics at age 8," Pitzer said. "But you have to win a gold medal at either the sectional meet or our county meet to qualify.

"Most children don't do that well in their first year. It generally takes a while to adjust to the atmosphere and the competition."

Sigmund was born premature, weighing a pound at birth. He has growth hormone deficiency and a learning disability.

When it comes to running, he has no problem whatsoever.

"He's not very big, but he's a very coordinated young boy," coach Patti Daniels said. "A lot of times, Special Olympians struggle with coordination, but not him.

"It's fun seeing an athlete as young as Charles do so well. He was so excited when they draped those medals around his neck."

Coach Dave Burgoon described Sigmund as being "full of energy. He has a will to learn and succeed that we just don't see all that often.

"Charles wouldn't just walk to the other end of the stadium to report for an event. He'd run," Burgoon said.

Sigmund competed in the 8-to-11 age bracket. Special Olympians compete against those with physical skills and capabilities similar to their own.

"Some of the children Charles was running against were a foot taller with longer legs," Kathleen Sigmund said. "Most were a couple of years older than him."

Daniels is hopeful that Sigmund gets involved with the Special Olympics soccer team this fall.

"Our organization isn't just about competing, it's about social time, too," she said. "With his running ability, he'd be a natural for soccer and would probably meet a lot of new friends as well."

The Pennsylvania state games featured 2,000 athletes, 750 coaches and 2,500 volunteers.

Anyone with a child or relative interested in joining Butler County Special Olympics as an athlete, coach or volunteer can call 724-285-4101 or visit www.specialolympicspabutlerco.org.