My name is Cristhian Alexander Sornoza Morillo. I come from the Manabí province in Ecuador, a very humble background, country people, who educated me, taught me many values, respect and responsibility, but above all, humility and love.
Since I was little, I’ve always been a dreamer...dreaming of things I wanted but which were not easy to get. I dreamt of traveling to cities I’d never been to, playing football (soccer) professionally, and just travelling around the world.
I was always surrounded by a lot of love and caring, although since I was young, I’ve had many challenges and complications related to studying at school due to my disability. Back in those days, we didn’t have people specialized in understanding, much less teaching, people like me, and for that reason, I was not able to finish my studies. I got as far as 7th grade high school; the more I advanced, the harder it was for me to understand things, but I always felt a passion for sports—When I played soccer, I didn’t feel my disabilities affected my development.
In 2012, I had the opportunity to meet a coach who worked with people with intellectual disabilities for Special Olympics Ecuador events. Thanks to him, I had the opportunity to participate in Provincial Games, and that’s how I ended up representing my province in the Special Olympics Ecuador National Games, in Machala City.
From that point on, my history with Special Olympics Ecuador began; I represented my city and province on many occasions and managed to become the Soccer Team Captain for Special Olympics Manabí.
My greatest dream was about to happen: traveling and representing my country internationally! I made it into the qualifiers and preparation for the Special Olympics Unified Cup in Chicago, 2018. I still get teary-eyed when I think back to that moment they told me I had made the selection that would represent our country, I had in my hands the opportunity to show that with courage, discipline and commitment, dreams can come true.
I had never felt such a warm welcome, coach Esteban Navarrete and the whole Special Olympics Ecuador staff made us feel like we were all part of one team, one family. The constant training and preparation, all of that helped to achieve that which we wanted so bad: going to and winning in the Special Olympics Unified Cup, in which I went as captain of my dear team.
We came back as world champions... Who would believe the kid that loved soccer would end up representing Ecuador and showing that making your dreams come true is not so hard when you truly work at it and put your all into it.
Soon after I felt the need to become an independent person, but there weren’t many job opportunities for people with disabilities. I got a job at a cabinetmaking workshop, and from there, I was able to build my own home and sometime later, start my own business “Ebanistería El Sornoza” (“Sornoza’s Cabinetmaker Shop”). I dream of continuing its growth, and provide jobs for people like me, that need that one opportunity to move forward.
I continued participating in Special Olympics events, but as an Athlete Leader. I was part of the First National Unified Leadership Congress in Ambato, in 2022, and from there, I was able to participate in the 2023 Regional Youth Leadership Summit in Medellin, together with my friend and Unified partner, Antonella Montalvo.
In 2024, I was able to take part in the organizing of CONMEBOL’s and Special Olympic Latin America’s Football Week in Ecuador, and once again relive the passion I have for that sport, one that I’ve never stopped loving. Soccer and sports can unite people.
One of the greatest experiences in my life was participating in the Regional Athlete Leadership Congress, held during the IV Special Olympics Latin American Games in Asunción, in October of 2024. It was a unique experience, I got to meet and share with leaders from so many other countries in the region, and learn from each one of them. When I first got wind of the invitation and the opportunity to be elected as member of the Regional Council, I focused on a clear, single purpose. I worked to achieve it, and was chosen among 20 other leaders, together with my colleagues from Nicaragua and Chile. From that moment on, our duty became to listen and amplify the voices that go unheard, because we represent thousands of athletes in Latin America and we need to speak for them to the whole world.
We will work for a more inclusive world, in sports, in the workplace, in health, in life itself, I hope the day comes where we no longer have to ask for or look for inclusion, because it’ll be normalized as a daily thing and not a demand, but a part of life.
I want to be an example for people with disabilities that want to achieve their dreams, but in particular, to my daughter Jesslyn Sornoza; she’s five years old and I want her to see that her dad can be a role model in many things.
I’ve always been a dreamer. Remember, even the most difficult dreams can be achieved, and it’s not just about the dream becoming true, but in trying to do so and the road we take to accomplish it.
Never give up, never stop dreaming, DREAM BIG.
Cristhian Sornoza
Special Olympics athlete