Our Athletes
Athletes are the heart of Special Olympics. Our athletes are children and adults with intellectual disabilities from all around the world—5.6 million and counting! They are finding success, joy and friendship as part of our global community. They're also having lots of fun!
The mere mention of the word “bootcamp” can strike fear in the hearts of many. Yet for others, it conjures up the idea of strength, which is exactly what inclusive bootcamp instructor Beth Donahue wants her class to develop.
2 Min Read
Chris Nikic, a Special Olympics Florida athlete who has Down syndrome, competes in golf, swimming, track, basketball and triathlons.
2 Min Read
On Thursday, 5 March 2020, Members of Congress, the UAE Embassy, and Special Olympics USA athletes from Southern California, Virginia, D.C., Maryland, Ohio, and Connecticut gathered for a screening of The Road to Abu Dhabi, a documentary about the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019.
1 Min Read
Through Unified Leadership, we are bringing people together to learn from each other & build a more inclusive world.
The Special Olympics movement is driven by our volunteers with more than 1.1 million donating their time and expertise. Andy Grammer, triple-platinum singer/songwriter, stepped up this year as a volunteer coach for the 2020 NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game.
1 Min Read
In finding inclusion, Micheline also found confidence and independence.
On 1 February 2020, 300 remarkable athletes from 20 different countries gathered in Åre and Östersund for the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games.
1 Min Read
One thing that’s clear during the Special Olympics Sweden Invitational Games 2020 is the powerful sense of comradery: everyone seemed to cheer everyone else on.
1 Min Read
Every year, for the past nine years, a select group of talented Special Olympics athletes and basketball superstars past and present, form two teams, lace up and battle it out in the NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game!
1 Min Read
By experiencing inclusion in his workplace, Wilson has seen how important it is that we learn from each other.
Special Olympics Board Vice Chair, Loretta Clairborne, celebrates the black athletes who have contributed to the Special Olympics movement.
Inclusion brings out the best in everyone by allowing us to accept people for who they are.