When Gerard was young, his family noticed that he had difficulties learning and understanding his schoolwork. They enrolled him in a special school for children with intellectual disabilities.
In 2009, Gerard joined Special Olympics, practicing in athletics (track and field), and football (soccer). He was the distinguished top scorer of the Special Olympics National Unified Football Championship in 2016. He is the captain of The Diambars, a local football team, and he plays in the annual Unified National Football Tournament. During Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, Gerard participated in athletics and won two medals--one silver and one bronze.
Gerard was the captain of the Senegalese Unified Basketball team during Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. He demonstrated his leadership by galvanizing and encouraging his teammates. The team was awarded a bronze medal. During Season 3 and Season 4 of the Basketball Africa League, Gerard was employed as technical support for players. He carried out the tasks assigned to him seriously and conscientiously.
Gerard is a member of the Special Olympics Senegal Healthy Athletes® Logistic Team, actively participating in the preparation of screening stations and support provision during Healthy Athletes events.
With the help of Special Olympics Senegal, Gerard took courses at the National School of Arts from 2019 to 2021. Gerard was trained as a Health Messenger and Special Olympics Young Athletes® Coach Assistant in 2021. He is engaged in health activities, raising awareness about malaria prevention, and the protection of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Health Messengers 2024
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Rimi Ando
Special Olympics Nippon -
Jennifer Stephanie López Avelar
Special Olympics El Salvador -
Asma Baker
Special Olympics United Arab Emirates -
Gerard Diedhiou
Special Olympics Senegal -
Tyler Griswold
Special Olympics Kansas -
Sharon Johnson
Special Olympics Arkansas -
Lam Wai Kwan
Special Olympics Hong Kong -
Patricia Larkin
Special Olympics Ireland -
Daniel Fernando Velasquez Lecointe
Special Olympics Guatemala -
Michael León
Special Olympics Southern California -
Banele Makhonco
Special Olympics South Africa -
Sam Micallef
Special Olympics Malta -
Odion-Imafidon Osatohamwen
Special Olympics Nigeria -
Elbegzaya Purev
Special Olympics Mongolia -
Adéla Šavlová
Special Olympics Czech Republic -
Enma Maria Madrid Vallecillo
Special Olympics Honduras -
Ying Yung
Special Olympics Chinese Taipei
