Stories From the Field of Play
Win or lose, our athletes leave it all on the field. Read more about their triumphs, trials and trainings here.
Athletes and coaches, share your story at the bottom of the page!
Athletes and coaches, share your story at the bottom of the page!
What’s in a Name? For the Special Olympics North America Lifetime Achievement Award, It’s All About Longtime Coach Annette Lynch
A highly decorated Special Olympics coach, Annette Lynch has several favorite memories, but there is one in particular that stands out. Her Special Olympics Virginia Area 26 basketball team, the Dulles Cowboys, surprisingly qualified for the 1995 Special Olympics World Games in New Haven, Connecticut.
4 Min Read
Special Olympics Faces of Basketball Reaches Audience of 418 Million
The website gathered training videos, events, profile cards and news stories on a unique platform to provide a hybrid online-offline experience of European Basketball Week 2021.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Canada Athlete Excels in Gym & Kitchen
Special Olympics Canada athlete Michael Bandler, a four-time SO World Games medalist, has a passion for the culinary arts and uses his skills in the kitchen to help him train.
2 Min Read
Athlete Finds Health, Motivation in Virtual Fitness
Amber Gertsch has a passion for everything she does—taking care of her red-tail hawk, sword-fighting, being an emergency medical technician—but some things stand out more than others.
2 Min Read
Healthy Athletes Gives Xu Better Footing for Sports, Life
Xu has always been ready to try—even if things get tough. He was born with cerebral palsy, so sometimes it took him a little longer to reach his growth milestones. But Xu, who was born in Inner Mongolia, didn't give up.
1 Min Read
Thea Weinert Forms Bond with UNC Gymnastics Team, Gains a Newfound Level of Confidence
Thea Weinert loves to do backflips. The 12-year-old especially loves it when her teammates at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill help her. “I love to hang out with the girls,” Weinert says. “Gymnastics is one of my favorite sports because of the girls—and it just makes me happy seeing them.”
2 Min Read
More than an IRONMAN
In a new documentary, Chris Nikic takes you behind the scenes to see how he balances training, community and his personal life.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Super Bowl LVI Media Recap
For the ninth consecutive year Special Olympics capitalized on the environment as a massive storytelling platform for the movement despite a shift primarily to a virtual setting.
1 Min Read
Li Na Inspires Special Olympics Athletes at Macau Tennis Academy
Professional tennis player Li Na inspires Special Olympics athletes at Macau Tennis Academy.
1 Min Read
International Women’s Day: Celebrating the Accomplishments of Emanuelle “Manu” Dutra Fernandes de Souza
Emanuelle Dutra Fernandes de Souza, better known as “Manu,” is a 24-year-old Special Olympics Brazil athlete who embodies the spirit of inclusion.
2 Min Read
Share Your Story
Athletes and coaches: we would love to hear your story! Fill out this form to share your experiences with the Special Olympics community.