RJ Nealon's journey with Special Olympics began with a letter. At just 10 years old, he reached out to the CEO of Special Olympics, eager to get involved. That single act of initiative opened the door to a world where he would discover his voice, not just as an athlete, but as a powerful storyteller, mentor, and advocate.
“They expect excellence, whether you’re on the field or not. That standard followed me into my career with every story I’ve done.”
"I started as an athlete competing in basketball, swimming, flag football, kayaking, cycling, any sport I could really get involved in," Nealon recalled. “I probably wouldn't have been involved in those sports if it wasn’t for Special Olympics.” His early years were defined by passion and participation, but they would soon evolve into something even greater.
In 2010, Nealon competed at the USA Games in Nebraska for swimming. But it wasn’t the races or the medals that changed his life. "The highlight of that trip was walking through Lincoln Memorial Stadium. I love college football, and that moment sparked something in me." That behind-the-scenes look at a football legacy planted the seeds of a future in sports journalism.
But his love for storytelling was truly ignited years earlier by a single game, the 2006 Rose Bowl. “Texas versus USC. Vince Young. Reggie Bush. The voices on the call resonated with me. I never wanted to be the player on the field. I wanted to be the guy in the booth.”
That dream carried him to the University of Alabama, where he studied sports journalism surrounded by one of the most elite athletic departments in the country. “They expect excellence, whether you’re on the field or not. That standard followed me into my career with every story I’ve done.”
That career eventually brought Nealon full circle, back to Special Olympics, this time as a Communication Specialist for Special Olympics North America, leading a program he helped create, the “Athlete Storytelling Training Series.”
“There are so many athletes across North America who have storytelling talent but maybe never had the opportunity to go get a journalism degree,” Nealon said. “So, I wanted to create that opportunity.”
The six-month training course is rigorous and hands-on. Athletes learn traditional journalism skills from research to interviewing to feature writing and social media reporting, including the chance to hear from guest speakers from major media outlets like ESPN. The results speak for themselves.
“There was an athlete named Wyatt Spaulding from Nebraska. He used what he learned in our training on Super Bowl Media Row with FanSided, interviewing his favorite players,” Nealon said. “It shows this is making a real impact.”
The transformation is not just technical, it's personal. “Some athletes came in as great speakers but not confident writers, or vice versa,” Nealon said. “Over six months, we’ve seen them grow into powerful communicators, some now have their stories published online.”
For Nealon, the importance of athletes sharing their own stories is clear.
“Without the athletes, we are not Special Olympics. They are the most authentic voice of the mission. People resonate with authenticity.”
His advice to athletes wanting to enter journalism is simple.
“Start looking for stories. Use your social media platforms. You don’t need a degree to be a journalist. You just need the skills and the passion.”
As Nealon helps elevate the voices of others, he never forgets the path that brought him here. “If it wasn’t for Special Olympics, I wouldn’t have the career I have. I owe so much to this movement.”
Now, he’s helping others find their voice too. Because when athletes tell their own stories, the world listens.
