Athlete Leadership
Special Olympics aims to give Athlete Leaders the skills, training, support and opportunities that they need to reach their full potential.
Athlete Regional Council
At a regional level, we have five Athlete Leader representatives who make up our Athlete Regional Council: Julia Fonsén from Finland, Inge Maiberg from Estonia, Niall Guite from Great Britain, Shania Xuereb from Malta and Michael Lofink from Germany.
International Representation
Two Sargent Shriver Global Messengers also represent our region at international level: Gilmour Borg from Malta and Margaret Turley from Ireland. Kiera Byland, a Special Olympics Great Britain athlete and a former member of the SOEE Athlete Leadership Council, currently sits on the Special Olympics International Board of Directors.
The Role of Athlete Leaders
Key focuses of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia’s work in Athlete Leadership is engaging Athlete Leaders in meaningful roles at key Special Olympics regional events such as the Regional Health Congress, Leadership Conference, the Athlete Leadership Congress and Special Olympics European Week of Families, which will launch in 2026. Athlete Leaders are also encouraged and supported in meaningful roles at high-level events outside of Special Olympics, for example serving as keynote speakers, hosts, panellists, and communications leads. Examples of our athletes shining bright on the international stage include:
- Mariam Khutsianidze, Special Olympics Georgia Athlete Leader addressing the second European Aquatics® Diversity Equality and Inclusion Conference in Tbilisi
- Gilmour Borg, Special Olympics Malta Athlete Leader speaking at the EU World Mental Health Day Conference in Brussels.
There is also a strong focus in our region on training and activating health messengers and fitness captains across the region and training female Athlete Leaders across our region.
- Mariam Khutsianidze, Special Olympics Georgia Athlete Leader addressing the second European Aquatics® Diversity Equality and Inclusion Conference in Tbilisi
- Gilmour Borg, Special Olympics Malta Athlete Leader speaking at the EU World Mental Health Day Conference in Brussels.
There is also a strong focus in our region on training and activating health messengers and fitness captains across the region and training female Athlete Leaders across our region.