NATCHEZ — Local athletes made their presence known at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games last weekend in New Jersey with gold medal wins, private tours and a whole lot of dancing.

Roseskita Johnson, who took gold in the freestyle swimming competition, nearly danced the entire time, stealing the spotlight on a cruise and performing a celebratory dance after her gold medal win.

“I’m the best (dancer),” said Johnson, who was described as the life of the party by her Mississippi teammates. “I do ‘big girl, back it up.’”

That’s the name of the dance Johnson does for “The Wobble,” where she proceeds to wave her arms, shake her hips and back it up.

Not to be outdone by her teammate, Diane Turner showed a few of her own moves on the cruise, tipping her cap to an older song.

“They don’t know how to do the old dance — ‘The Twist,’” Turner said.

Turner won the gold medal in the softball toss, and though every Special Olympian was modest after their victory, Turner wasn’t shy about the strength she possesses.

“How far you want me to throw it?” asked Turner, when asked how far she could heave a softball.

Perhaps Turner inherited some of the charisma from a combined 900 pounds of WWE superstar, as she met the Big Show and Mark Henry at the event. Rest assured, no “choke slams” or “World Strongest Slams” were handed out to Turner.

“They knew better,” Turner said. “I would’ve taken them out.”

Philadelphia 76ers star Michael Carter-Williams and Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer also appeared at the event. But meeting celebrities was just part of the fun Sadie Saunders, Chandler Warren, LaQuanda Cooks and Dustin Floyd had at the event.

Floyd, who took first place in the 4×100 relay and placed third in the long jump, might have had his most fun before the event transpired.

Floyd’s teammates tattled on him about being flirtatious with plane stewardesses on plane rides there and back.

First-year track coach Patrice Cothern witnessed it first-hand.

“He was like, ‘you want me to say something,’” Cothern said, laughing. “I would just look at him.”

Floyd wouldn’t deny, and nor could he, as his teammates proceeded to tell on him. It didn’t bother Floyd, though, as he wore a huge grin above his gold medal.

The 100-meter walk gold medalist, Cooks, was still on a high from all of the games and great food that was given, while female bocce gold medalist Saunders cherished the sites she’d been granted to see.

Sanders got to go on a private tour with Warren into the Fire Department Station No. 10 that was the first to respond to the 9-11 attack. Warren’s father, Ricky, said it was a dream of Chandler’s to see it. After all, Chandler is a volunteer firefighter, himself, for the Foster Mound Volunteer Fire Department.

Chandler won three gold medals at the event, and one of those gold medals came after a game-winning throw in the men’s bocce.

After everything they had accomplished both separate and together, each proud individual took humble approaches after their gold medal wins. A lack of confidence wasn’t missing, though, as Area Director for District 7 Tommie Jones can attest.

“Being a part of Special Olympics has built their self-esteem,” Jones said. “A lot of people knew them from participating, and it’s really nice to see that.”

Ricky made the trip along with his son and all of the special athletes, and after watching most of them compete, he was glad to see each participant defeat the real competitor.

“It’s a competition between the athletes, but it’s more of a competition between their disabilities,” Ricky said. “That’s the way I look at it. They don’t get the recognition of superstars, but these are champions right here.”