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Athletes

athlete lead
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!

Serving Up Inclusion at the Australian Open 2024

At the Australian Open 2024, players of differing abilities will soon take to the courts to compete at the second edition of the Players with Intellectual Impairments (PWII) Championship.
1 Min Read

Special Olympics Athletes Reflect on Berlin 2023’s Legacy

EU-supported video series dives into life-changing experiences of Special Olympics athletes at the World Games 2023
1 Min Read

New Members of Regional Athlete Leadership Council Elected

Six individuals to represent Special Olympics Europe Eurasia athletes from 2024 to 2027
2 Min Read

Gaming for Inclusion Covered by Microsoft Unlocked

The Special Olympics and Microsoft join Gaming For Inclusion tournament was covered by Microsoft Unlocked in an article titled Casting Confidence.
1 Min Read

Special Olympics Tennis Player Lily Mills selected for Australian Open Persons with Intellectual Impairment Championships

Three-time Special Olympics (SO) World Games gold medalist, Lily Mills, has been selected as a wildcard for the Australian Open Persons with Intellectual Impairment Championships.
2 Min Read

Basketball in Iceland: From Lay Ups to Lifelong Friendships That Turned into Family

In a small country with a population of less than 400,000 people, there is a family with 32 children. They hang out together, hold pizza parties, chat, laugh, but most of all, they play basketball.
4 Min Read

Special Olympics British Columbia Athlete Making Difference Within Community

“I got involved with Special Olympics when I was in school and I was put down all my life. So, I found out about Special Olympics and how they accepted people and how we get the opportunity to compete.”
3 Min Read

Special Olympics Addresses the Issue of Tobacco Use and its Impact on People with Disabilities on The GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

Special Olympics aims to provide inclusive strategies with National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) that address challenges faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live smokefree and choose health.
2 Min Read

Kayleigh Williamson Completes the 2023 New York City Marathon

Among the racers was Special Olympics Texas runner Kayleigh Williamson who made history as one of the first women with Down syndrome to complete the NYC Marathon (10:09:11).
1 Min Read

Rose Pleskow Holds a Meaningful Role with Special Olympics Partner Brightspot

When Pleskow is not swimming in the Potomac River alongside her mom or running on the track, she can be found within the walls of Brightspot—a software development company just outside the nation’s capital in Reston, Virginia.
3 Min Read

Nyasha Derera Celebrates the 2023 World Games in Berlin

The 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin made me feel at home, welcomed, loved, and embraced.
1 Min Read

Father-Son Duo Shines at Special Olympics North America Tennis and Pickleball Championship

Sports have always been a powerful force for bringing people together, and Special Olympics Unified Sports® is no exception.
2 Min Read