Athlete Leadership
North America's Athlete Leaders are Ready to Take on Big Challenges
The athlete delegates chosen for the Special Olympics North America Athlete Congress see themselves as leaders. Leading is what they intend to do before, during, and after the Congress in March. They know they’ve been empowered to discuss difficult topics and find solutions to big challenges.
3 Min Read
Youth Leadership in Africa is Making News
Across Africa, young leaders with and without intellectual disabilities are stepping into the global spotlight and the world is paying attention. From Regional summits to global platforms, young Special Olympics leaders are not waiting for change; they are leading it.
2 Min Read
Athlete Leaders Step Up for a Historic Regional Athlete Congress
Talk a little with the athlete leaders going to the Special Olympics North America Athlete Congress in Michigan, and you will notice they have some things in common.
4 Min Read
Women Play, Women Lead
A significant leadership gap remains across Special Olympics globally. There are 50,739 Athlete Leaders worldwide, with 34.6% more men serving in these roles than women. The Women Play, Women Lead initiative is working to address this issue.
7 Min Read
Magnús Captures the Spirit of Sport in Cyprus
When Sports Directors gathered in Cyprus for the Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Sports Conference in October 2025, the focus was on strengthening sport, expanding opportunity, and shaping the future of Special Olympics. For Magnús, the conference represented something more personal, a meaningful next chapter in his own journey.
2 Min Read
Empowering the Next Generation
When Wenli first learned about Special Olympics, it wasn’t through a school program or a family connection, it was through a simple post on social media.
2 Min Read
From Gymnastics to the Big Screen
Magnus first stepped into a gymnastics class at just six years old.
2 Min Read
Advocating, Inspiring, and Leading with Confidence
Margaret Turley, a Special Olympics Sargent Shriver Global Messenger, recently had the opportunity to travel internationally, visiting both Brussels and New York, and she brought her passion for inclusion and health advocacy wherever she went.
1 Min Read
Special Olympics Athlete Is Leading Change in Healthcare
When Melony Salla, a Special Olympics Indiana athlete, walks into a doctor’s office, she wants to be treated like what she is, the expert on her own body.
2 Min Read