Athlete Leadership

Shrey Kadian, Special Olympics India, recounts how sports helped him become a leader in The Playfield article.

Amber Gertsch is a very active athlete from Special Olympics Utah. She continues to compete in virtual walking events.

Mackenzie Beauvais-Nikl becomes first Special Olympics athlete to co-chair a Program board.

Special Olympics Georgia athlete Lani DeMello continues to achieve incredible things in athletics and coaching gymnastics.

Special Olympics Europe Eurasia is excited to announce that Special Olympics Italia Unified Partner, Gerald Mballe will join the regional team as the movement’s first-ever Advisor on the Special Olympics Unified with Refugees programme.

There he is, alone, with mother nature. Unlacing his shoes and removing his socks, he walks barefoot on the Iowa soil. Depending on the day, a shadow might reflect off the cool grass. The crisp sharpness of the earth glides across his skin helping Tyler Leech disconnect from the world.

Through sports, Special Olympics athletes build skills and become leaders—on the field and in the community. Stephanie Handojo can tell you all about it! For Stephanie, swimming has been a great way to shatter stereotypes about the skills and stamina of people with Down syndrome. But to do this, she had to overcome many obstacles, including a huge one: her fear of water.

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.