Sharing the joy of sport

Special Olympics has received many incredible stories from people whose lives have been changed and enriched through sport, friendship, fun and mentorship. Some of those people have been kind enough to share their stories with you.

Visit our photo and video galleries featuring our athletes, coaches, and volunteers.

27-year-old Team Ontario 5 Pin bowler Brandon Khan and 52-year-old Team Alberta snowshoer Spencer Stevens compete at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
Generations Compete: Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
From two-years-old to 70-plus, there’s a place for everyone – all ages and skill levels – at Special Olympics. Meet 27-year-old Team Ontario 5 Pin bowler Brandon Khan and 52-year-old Team Alberta snowshoer Spencer Stevens, both competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020.
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Fae and Jeri Lee Hodgins pose for a photo at the bowling alley.
Special Olympics Team BC sisters overcome major heart surgery on road to 2020 Winter Games
The road to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 has been seven years in the making for Special Olympics Team BC five-pin bowler Jeri Lee Hodgins and her sister/head coach Fae.
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Athletes high five and fist bump.
Team Spirit: Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
From fist bumps, to high fives and thumbs up, there’s no shortage of team spirit when you’re on a Special Olympics Canada curling team. Meet the Special Olympics Team Saskatchewan curlers from Melfort who are in Thunder Bay for the 2020 Winter Games.
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Two Special Olympics Canada athletes attend their first National Games.
A Whole New Level: Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
Meet Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador cross-country skier Michael Budden and Special Olympics Quebec alpine skier April Gaudain. For both athletes, Thunder Bay marks their first-ever National Games. Watch the above video and follow them in to their first Opening Ceremony experience.
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Play video for Curling Day in Canada feature of Special Olympic athlete.
Special Olympics athlete featured on TSN for Curling Day in Canada
It’s been a long road to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 for Adam Vriesendorp. The New Brunswick athlete underwent surgery...
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Deb and Mike Sumner take a selfie together.
Special Olympics Team Yukon a family affair for this Whitehorse family
With Mike competing in figure skating and Deb a curling coach, the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 will be the mother-son duo’s third time travelling to a National Games as part of Special Olympics Team Yukon.
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Adam and Brendon stand side by side with their heads shaved looking into the camera
One brother went through chemo, the other through major surgery. Now they’re both representing New Brunswick at Winter Games
Since the last Winter Games in 2016, Brendon, a 24-year-old speed skater with autism, has survived cancer and Adam, a 22-year-old curler with autism, has recovered from a surgery that removed 40 per cent of his lung.
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Eric sits in a chair getting his eyes checked.
Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes program unleashes PEI bowler’s potential with new prescription glasses
Special Olympics Team PEI five-pin bowler Eric Smith, 36, has had cataracts since a young age.
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Matthew and Crystal hug on their wedding day while looking into the camera.
Happy Valentine's Day from Special Olympics' Matthew and Crystal Williams
Langley B.C.’s Matthew and Crystal Williams are high school sweethearts who met through their special education class at Walnut Grove Secondary School...
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Tracey Melesko cross country skis in front of a tree line.
Kelowna’s Tracey Melesko leads Special Olympics Team BC cross-country skiers to success ahead of Winter Games
Special Olympics Team British Columbia’s cross-country skiers are a tight-knit group bound for success with longtime Kelowna athlete Tracey Melesko at the helm.
view full
27-year-old Team Ontario 5 Pin bowler Brandon Khan and 52-year-old Team Alberta snowshoer Spencer Stevens compete at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
Generations Compete: Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
From two-years-old to 70-plus, there’s a place for everyone – all ages and skill levels – at Special Olympics. Meet 27-year-old Team Ontario 5 Pin bowler Brandon Khan and 52-year-old Team Alberta snowshoer Spencer Stevens, both competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020.
view full
Fae and Jeri Lee Hodgins pose for a photo at the bowling alley.
Special Olympics Team BC sisters overcome major heart surgery on road to 2020 Winter Games
The road to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 has been seven years in the making for Special Olympics Team BC five-pin bowler Jeri Lee Hodgins and her sister/head coach Fae.
view full
Athletes high five and fist bump.
Team Spirit: Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
From fist bumps, to high fives and thumbs up, there’s no shortage of team spirit when you’re on a Special Olympics Canada curling team. Meet the Special Olympics Team Saskatchewan curlers from Melfort who are in Thunder Bay for the 2020 Winter Games.
view full
Two Special Olympics Canada athletes attend their first National Games.
A Whole New Level: Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020
Meet Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador cross-country skier Michael Budden and Special Olympics Quebec alpine skier April Gaudain. For both athletes, Thunder Bay marks their first-ever National Games. Watch the above video and follow them in to their first Opening Ceremony experience.
view full
Play video for Curling Day in Canada feature of Special Olympic athlete.
Special Olympics athlete featured on TSN for Curling Day in Canada
It’s been a long road to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 for Adam Vriesendorp. The New Brunswick athlete underwent surgery...
view full
Deb and Mike Sumner take a selfie together.
Special Olympics Team Yukon a family affair for this Whitehorse family
With Mike competing in figure skating and Deb a curling coach, the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 will be the mother-son duo’s third time travelling to a National Games as part of Special Olympics Team Yukon.
view full
Adam and Brendon stand side by side with their heads shaved looking into the camera
One brother went through chemo, the other through major surgery. Now they’re both representing New Brunswick at Winter Games
Since the last Winter Games in 2016, Brendon, a 24-year-old speed skater with autism, has survived cancer and Adam, a 22-year-old curler with autism, has recovered from a surgery that removed 40 per cent of his lung.
view full
Eric sits in a chair getting his eyes checked.
Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes program unleashes PEI bowler’s potential with new prescription glasses
Special Olympics Team PEI five-pin bowler Eric Smith, 36, has had cataracts since a young age.
view full
Matthew and Crystal hug on their wedding day while looking into the camera.
Happy Valentine's Day from Special Olympics' Matthew and Crystal Williams
Langley B.C.’s Matthew and Crystal Williams are high school sweethearts who met through their special education class at Walnut Grove Secondary School...
view full
Tracey Melesko cross country skis in front of a tree line.
Kelowna’s Tracey Melesko leads Special Olympics Team BC cross-country skiers to success ahead of Winter Games
Special Olympics Team British Columbia’s cross-country skiers are a tight-knit group bound for success with longtime Kelowna athlete Tracey Melesko at the helm.
view full