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 Aims to Make History Crossing Ocean from the Bahamas to Florida
Under the blistering Florida summer sun, 16-year-old Layla Crehan has been paddling for many hours. But the Special Olympics Florida athlete is exactly where she wants to be: out on the water on her stand up paddleboard. Her stand up paddleboard journey started just a few years ago, without Crehan realizing how quickly she would take to it or just how far it would take her.
6 Min Read
Justin & Caraline’s Story
Justin and Caraline met through Special Olympics New York Coach Brian Tenety’s Unified basketball team in high school. Today, they carry on his legacy of inclusion as teammates and friends—on and off the court.
3 Min Read
Athletes Lead Ahead of 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
As the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games came to an end, all in attendance gathered to celebrate a week of sports and inclusion at the Closing Ceremony. Over the loudspeakers and displayed on the jumbotron, the announcement that the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games would be held in Orlando, FL was made. A sense of excitement could be felt throughout the entire venue.
5 Min Read
Celebrating World Bicycle Day with Special Olympics Mauritius Athlete Al-Sayyed Curumthaullee
Celebrating World Bicycle Day with Special Olympics Mauritius Athlete Al-Sayyed Curumthaullee
1 Min Read
Unified Television Cast Talks about the Power of Sport in Power Rangers Dino Fury Episode
Special Olympics guest star and co-star of Power Rangers Dino Fury talk about inclusion in new videos.
1 Min Read
Sibling Bonds through the Ages: Reflecting on the Life of Betty Sue Rogers
Family members reflect on how Special Olympics improved Betty Sue and her family's lives.
3 Min Read
Rodney Hankins Adds Spirit to Coaching Special Olympics
Special Olympics New York Rodney Hankins shifted his focus to coaching after many years of competing.
5 Min Read
Special Olympics Ohio Athlete to Announce Vikings NFL Draft Pick
Special Olympics Ohio athlete and coach Bobby Reidl will announce an NFL Draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday during the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
2 Min Read
Nick Turns Isolation During COVID into a New—and Healthy—Start.
Many people with intellectual disabilities live sedentary lives and have unhealthy eating habits. Data collected by Special Olympics shows that 80% of athletes with intellectual disabilities are overweight or obese.
1 Min Read
Meet Tan Yee Shu: Fitness Leader and Weight-loss Role Model!
At the 2019 World Games, Tan Yee Shu was known as the talented and motivated captain of his Unified basketball team. He continued that leadership even after competitions and in-person training halted due to COVID-19.
1 Min Read
Experiences With Autism: In Our Own Words
For World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April 2021, we came up a few survey questions for fellow Special Olympics athletes with autism. We both work at Special Olympics. Josh is an Assistant in the Business Services department and Jerry works as a Specialist with the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® program. Through these answers, we hope readers will learn that people with autism have a wide variety of talents, outlooks and experiences.
Article and interviews by Jerry Holy and Josh Cohen
Article and interviews by Jerry Holy and Josh Cohen