Stories

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.

Alma Loken
Meet Special Olympics Ontario Athlete Alma Loken
4-year-old Alma Loken started with Special Olympics in her local Active Start program in the fall of 2015 and has loved every minute of it. Since she...
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Nicholas
Meet Special Olympics BC Athlete Nicholas McClean
An athlete with Special Olympics BC for more than three years, Nicholas McClean is a persistant and hard-working athlete. A swimmer who just took part...
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Carmel
Meet Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer, Dr. Carmel Casey
Dr. Carmel Casey has been involved with Special Olympics for 18 years. Her involvement began when her sister Denise became a Special Olympics athlete...
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NEIL
Meet Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer, Dr. Neil Cheeseman
Neil previously coached Special Olympics for 10 years, throughout his high school years, university, and the first part of medical school...
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Dorothy Volunteer
Meet Special Olympics BC Volunteer, Dorothy Franson
Hardworking Special Olympics BC – Chilliwack Program Coordinator Dorothy Franson is inspired by the amazing athletes in her Local, who she says always...
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Barb_volunteer
Meet Special Olympics Alberta Volunteer, Barb Prystai
Barbara Prystai’s journey with the Special Olympics started nearly 20 years ago with a simple newspaper advertisement. “I found out about Special...
view full
Dave_Volunteer
Meet Special Olympics Manitoba Volunteer, Dave Kindrat
Dave has been a great coach, leader, and mentor for his athletes, assistant coaches, and program volunteers. He is currently a member of the Westman...
view full
SOC
Meet Nova Scotia Volunteer Cyril MacDonald
1) How/when did you first become involved with Special Olympics? I first got involved with Special Olympics through my high school Interact Club...
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Paul Turner
Meet Ontario Coach Paul Turner
Paul has been involved with the Special Olympics movement for 37 years! As an avid sports fan, Paul has channeled his love of sports into being a...
view full
Evan james
Meet Alberta athlete Evan James
Evan James hails from Edmonton, Alberta and recently competed in his very first Special Olympics World Games in Austria in March of 2017. An...
view full
Alma Loken
Meet Special Olympics Ontario Athlete Alma Loken
4-year-old Alma Loken started with Special Olympics in her local Active Start program in the fall of 2015 and has loved every minute of it. Since she...
view full
Nicholas
Meet Special Olympics BC Athlete Nicholas McClean
An athlete with Special Olympics BC for more than three years, Nicholas McClean is a persistant and hard-working athlete. A swimmer who just took part...
view full
Carmel
Meet Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer, Dr. Carmel Casey
Dr. Carmel Casey has been involved with Special Olympics for 18 years. Her involvement began when her sister Denise became a Special Olympics athlete...
view full
NEIL
Meet Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador Volunteer, Dr. Neil Cheeseman
Neil previously coached Special Olympics for 10 years, throughout his high school years, university, and the first part of medical school...
view full
Dorothy Volunteer
Meet Special Olympics BC Volunteer, Dorothy Franson
Hardworking Special Olympics BC – Chilliwack Program Coordinator Dorothy Franson is inspired by the amazing athletes in her Local, who she says always...
view full
Barb_volunteer
Meet Special Olympics Alberta Volunteer, Barb Prystai
Barbara Prystai’s journey with the Special Olympics started nearly 20 years ago with a simple newspaper advertisement. “I found out about Special...
view full
Dave_Volunteer
Meet Special Olympics Manitoba Volunteer, Dave Kindrat
Dave has been a great coach, leader, and mentor for his athletes, assistant coaches, and program volunteers. He is currently a member of the Westman...
view full
SOC
Meet Nova Scotia Volunteer Cyril MacDonald
1) How/when did you first become involved with Special Olympics? I first got involved with Special Olympics through my high school Interact Club...
view full
Paul Turner
Meet Ontario Coach Paul Turner
Paul has been involved with the Special Olympics movement for 37 years! As an avid sports fan, Paul has channeled his love of sports into being a...
view full
Evan james
Meet Alberta athlete Evan James
Evan James hails from Edmonton, Alberta and recently competed in his very first Special Olympics World Games in Austria in March of 2017. An...
view full