Stories | Special Olympics Canada

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.

Two male Special Olympics athlete smile looking into the camera in front of a basketball court

Apply for a Special Olympics Canada Research Grant

Special Olympics Canada is accepting applications for research grants! The organization is looking for Special Olympics-oriented research proposals...

Two male Special Olympics athlete smile looking into the camera in front of a basketball court

Apply for a Special Olympics Canada 2020 research grant

Special Olympics Canada is accepting applications for 2020 research grants. The organization is looking for Special Olympics-oriented research...

Logan Firmage smile and looks in the camera.

From a town with no bowling alley to National Games: Meet this 15-year-old Special Olympics Team Newfoundland five-pin bowler

Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador’s Logan Firmage rarely bowls at a bowling alley – but that didn’t stop the 15-year-old from qualifying for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020.

Madalyn, left, stands atop the podium smiling at the camera next to another athlete

In just three years, this 17-year-old snowshoer has gained confidence – and a spot on Special Olympics Team Saskatchewan 2020

Saskatoon’s Madalyn Gramiak has spent many years cheering for her older sister on the soccer field. Now that she’s a Special Olympics Saskatchewan athlete, it’s Madalyn’s turn to be the “superstar” in the family.

Photos of Dereck Boutilier before and after weightloss

Dream of playing floor hockey helped this Special Olympics Team Nova Scotia athlete transform his life, lose 140 pounds

Special Olympics Nova Scotia’s Dereck Boutilier always wanted to play floor hockey, but at 302-pounds it just wasn’t possible.

Christine Hoffman's before and after weight loss pictures side by side.

Road to National Games leads to 100-pound transformation for this Special Olympics Manitoba bowler

Two years ago, Special Olympics Manitoba five-pin bowler Christine Hoffman weighed nearly 400-pounds and struggled with high cholesterol at just 26-years-old. When she qualified for the Special Olympics Canada 2018 Bowling Championships in Prince Edward Island, she and her coach decided to make some much-needed lifestyle changes.

Logan Wilson poses for a photo with his arms around Special Olympics athletes.

Special Olympics is “the secret to happiness” for New Brunswick teen volunteer

Logan Wilson is a 17-year-old Miramichi, New Brunswick high school student with a passion for Special Olympics. When the Special Olympics New...

Ezekiel in action on the ice

How the ice helped this Special Olympics Team Ontario speed skater find his voice

Richmond Hill’s Ezekiel Liu has grown up looking at a photo of his four-year-old self in a Team Canada costume, holding a toy medal from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. While the photo has sat framed in the family’s living room for the past 10 years, they never expected Ezekiel, who has autism, to become a competitive athlete and hold a real medal – until they discovered Special Olympics speed skating.

Maurice Bernier stands with his bowling team for a photo in front of the lanes.

Age is just a number: Meet the 74-year-old Special Olympics BC bowler gearing up for National Games

At 74-years-old, the five-pin bowler from Port Alberni will be the oldest athlete competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020. At 74-years-old, the five-pin bowler from Port Alberni will be the oldest, most mature athlete competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020

Wyatt poses for a photo on the ski hill in an orange snow suit.

This 13-year-old Alberta alpine skier will be the youngest competitor at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games

At just 13-years-old, Special Olympics Alberta’s Wyatt Oostendorp is the youngest athlete out of more than 800 competitors gearing up for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 in February. The alpine skier is also new to the sport – it’s only his second year on the slopes.

Two male Special Olympics athlete smile looking into the camera in front of a basketball court

Apply for a Special Olympics Canada Research Grant

Special Olympics Canada is accepting applications for research grants! The organization is looking for Special Olympics-oriented research proposals...

Two male Special Olympics athlete smile looking into the camera in front of a basketball court

Apply for a Special Olympics Canada 2020 research grant

Special Olympics Canada is accepting applications for 2020 research grants. The organization is looking for Special Olympics-oriented research...

Logan Firmage smile and looks in the camera.

From a town with no bowling alley to National Games: Meet this 15-year-old Special Olympics Team Newfoundland five-pin bowler

Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador’s Logan Firmage rarely bowls at a bowling alley – but that didn’t stop the 15-year-old from qualifying for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020.

Madalyn, left, stands atop the podium smiling at the camera next to another athlete

In just three years, this 17-year-old snowshoer has gained confidence – and a spot on Special Olympics Team Saskatchewan 2020

Saskatoon’s Madalyn Gramiak has spent many years cheering for her older sister on the soccer field. Now that she’s a Special Olympics Saskatchewan athlete, it’s Madalyn’s turn to be the “superstar” in the family.

Photos of Dereck Boutilier before and after weightloss

Dream of playing floor hockey helped this Special Olympics Team Nova Scotia athlete transform his life, lose 140 pounds

Special Olympics Nova Scotia’s Dereck Boutilier always wanted to play floor hockey, but at 302-pounds it just wasn’t possible.

Christine Hoffman's before and after weight loss pictures side by side.

Road to National Games leads to 100-pound transformation for this Special Olympics Manitoba bowler

Two years ago, Special Olympics Manitoba five-pin bowler Christine Hoffman weighed nearly 400-pounds and struggled with high cholesterol at just 26-years-old. When she qualified for the Special Olympics Canada 2018 Bowling Championships in Prince Edward Island, she and her coach decided to make some much-needed lifestyle changes.

Logan Wilson poses for a photo with his arms around Special Olympics athletes.

Special Olympics is “the secret to happiness” for New Brunswick teen volunteer

Logan Wilson is a 17-year-old Miramichi, New Brunswick high school student with a passion for Special Olympics. When the Special Olympics New...

Ezekiel in action on the ice

How the ice helped this Special Olympics Team Ontario speed skater find his voice

Richmond Hill’s Ezekiel Liu has grown up looking at a photo of his four-year-old self in a Team Canada costume, holding a toy medal from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. While the photo has sat framed in the family’s living room for the past 10 years, they never expected Ezekiel, who has autism, to become a competitive athlete and hold a real medal – until they discovered Special Olympics speed skating.

Maurice Bernier stands with his bowling team for a photo in front of the lanes.

Age is just a number: Meet the 74-year-old Special Olympics BC bowler gearing up for National Games

At 74-years-old, the five-pin bowler from Port Alberni will be the oldest athlete competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020. At 74-years-old, the five-pin bowler from Port Alberni will be the oldest, most mature athlete competing at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020

Wyatt poses for a photo on the ski hill in an orange snow suit.

This 13-year-old Alberta alpine skier will be the youngest competitor at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games

At just 13-years-old, Special Olympics Alberta’s Wyatt Oostendorp is the youngest athlete out of more than 800 competitors gearing up for the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Thunder Bay 2020 in February. The alpine skier is also new to the sport – it’s only his second year on the slopes.