Athlete Leadership

Nitzeida was 11 when her mother died and her grandmother took her in, even as some of her siblings were living in the streets of Panama City. These were rough times, but one day Nitzeida saw something that gave her hope.

The 2nd Special Olympics MENA Regional Athlete Leadership Input Council Meeting was held virtually and attended by 20 Athlete Leaders from 10 programs. During the virtual meeting, all Athlete Leaders participated in a Design Thinking and Recycling Workshop.

Anas Khalil Al Zorba was once described by some as hyperactive with excessive movement. Then, he joined Special Olympics Palestine. Because of his sports training, the exercise and rules of game helped him control his energy and gain discipline. Not only did his skills and dedication improve his behavior, self-reliance and independence, but they also got him noticed by Special Olympics coaches and staff.

The 10 Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers (SSIGM) gathered in a Ritz-Carlton Grand Canal Hotel during the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

When COVID-19 hit, Steven stepped up to the ‘front lines,’ making sure his community had everything they needed.

Edna Sunjic is among the athletes of Special Olympics Bosnia and Herzegovina who currently leads a series of training sessions to help motivate her peers across the country.

Loretta Claiborne was born the middle of seven children in a poor, single-parent family in York, Pennsylvania. Partially blind and with intellectual disabilities, she was unable to walk or talk until four-years-old. Today, Claiborne is an accomplished athlete, motivational speaker, member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors, and Chief Inspiration Officer for Special Olympics.

Stephanie Ching has been a tenacious Special Olympics athlete for more than 25 years and has the medals to prove it!

On 25 March, NBC’s TODAY Show hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin featured the brand new Special Olympics School of Strength fitness campaign in a new segment called #UpliftTODAY, designed to spread positivity.

The mere mention of the word “bootcamp” can strike fear in the hearts of many. Yet for others, it conjures up the idea of strength, which is exactly what inclusive bootcamp instructor Beth Donahue wants her class to develop.