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!
Special Olympics athlete and author Haseeb Abbasi shares his inspirational journey to entrepreneurship at the 2019 Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi.
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Amber Gertsch is a very active athlete from Special Olympics Utah. She continues to compete in virtual walking events.
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Video highlighting the increasing number of participation by female athletes.
Caley Versfelt guest stars in an episode of ABC's The Good Doctor. As a person with an intellectual disability, she represents just 3% that is employed in the entertainment industry.
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Mackenzie Beauvais-Nikl becomes first Special Olympics athlete to co-chair a Program board.
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Special Olympics Georgia athlete Lani DeMello continues to achieve incredible things in athletics and coaching gymnastics.
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Black History Month, started by historian Carter G. Woodson, has been celebrated in the United States in February since 1976 as a way to honor the long ignored achievements and contributions made by African Americans.
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I’m well aware of the challenges of an autistic person in the United States but I wanted to take this opportunity to learn the challenges people with autism face living in Asia.
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It has been a year of profound challenges driven by restrictions, loss and uncertainty. The athletes of Special Olympics—many of whom were already severely marginalised by society—saw their daily lives made even more difficult with drastically reduced access to activities and education due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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My name is Novie. I’m an athlete, leader, and employee with a disability. I represented Special Olympics D.C. in Seattle, Washington, at the 2018 USA Games, and I work at Special Olympics International.
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During the Special Olympics Maryland “Sports Talks” series, athletes had the opportunity to ask pro-tennis player Tamira Paszek some questions about her approach to playing and competing in Tennis. Tamira, who is from Austria, holds several tennis titles including three Women's Tennis Association championships.
One of Special Olympics’ newest Champion Ambassadors is also one of the youngest. In many ways, Lily D Moore is a typical teen who enjoys cooking, cheerleading and experimenting with make-up and hairstyles. But as an actress with Down syndrome, she is breaking stereotypes playing Rebecca on the Netflix series Never Have I Ever.