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!
Lead and Follow: Special Olympics Netherlands Unified DanceSport
At just 3 years old, Special Olympics Netherlands athlete Kenya Koene began dancing. The footwork came naturally, as she followed in the footsteps of her mother, Irene Reniers, a longtime dancer.
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Team Estonia’s Helen Nääme Sails into DanceSport Finals!
Special Olympics Estonia athlete Helen Nääme kicked off the Games by leading her delegation in the Parade of Athletes at Opening Ceremony.
3 Min Read
Shane's Journey of Determination to World Games
If you were to see Shane François Bentley today—gliding on the ice, defending on the soccer field, or diving into a swimming pool—you’d never guess the mountain of challenges he’s had to overcome.
3 Min Read
When Special Olympics Finds You: An Unexpected Intersection of Medicine, Sport and Inclusion
While pursuing his medical degree at the University of Nairobi, Dr. Gome was an avid basketball player, dedicating his Saturdays to the sport he loved.
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Young Athletes Take the Floor
Pala Giani Asti was a party this morning as over 200 children from 7 area schools gathered for Special Olympics Young Athletes.
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Snowboarder Earns First Medal of Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025!
Gonzalo Escobar from Special Olympics Chile earned the first medal of the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025!
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Everyone Belongs in Sport: MATP Skiers Take to the Slopes in Powerful Sport Demonstration
Yesterday marks a historic day for the Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Program (MATP) when the first-ever MATP Demonstration took place at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025.
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Leveling the Field: Ugandan Youth Leading Change Through Soccer and Basketball
Their shared love of soccer has brought them not only friendship but also a powerful mission: to unite children with and without intellectual disabilities through sports—and to fight bullying in their community.
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Inspiring The Next Generation
For Special Olympics athlete, Veronica Diaz Rainieri, anything and everything is possible for everyone. A two-sport athlete in swimming and skiing, Diaz Rainieri is an inspiration for the youth in her native country of the Dominican Republic.
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Let the Games Begin!
The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 is underway! More than 1500 athletes have travelled to Turin, Italy from all over the globe. The Opening Ceremonies were incredible and highlighted impactful speeches, electric performances, and the unifying power of Special Olympics.
World Winter Games Turin 2025 Photo of the Day
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 is brimming with intense competition, inspiring stories, and heartfelt emotions. Dive into the spirit of these Games with our daily photo updates, capturing the essence of this extraordinary event.
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Brayan Rojas Rodriguez: A Legacy Lived
To create a legacy is to defy the limitations imposed by time. Special Olympics World Games defines limitless, permanentizing each victory, each friendship, each celebration.
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