Ten Special Olympics athletes have been selected to serve as the 2024 – 2027 Sargent Shriver Global Messengers – prestigious spokesperson roles for the global Special Olympics movement.
Special Olympics Sargent Shriver Global Messengers (SSGMs) are powerful communicators representing their fellow athletes to the world. Their responsibility is to lead the campaign for a more inclusive world for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities – to convey the urgency of inclusion, invite people into the movement and demonstrate that Special Olympics is every day, everywhere, for everyone. Through their participation and leadership at global, regional, and local events—both internal and external to the Special Olympics Movement—they challenge the mindsets of political leaders, policy makers, educators, employers, and society.
This impressive roster of ambassadors includes Special Olympics British Columbia athlete, Susan Wang.
"We are incredibly proud to have our very own Susan Wang appointed as the Sargent Shriver Global Messenger representing North America. Susan's passion, dedication and leadership truly embody the spirit of our movement. In this new role, Susan will amplify the voices of fellow Canadian athletes as well as her international peers, advocating for a more inclusive world. Her impact will be felt globally, inspiring change and breaking down barriers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities," shares Gail Hamamoto, CEO of Special Olympics Canada.
Meet Susan Wang, Sargent Shriver Global Messenger North America
Susan has been a Special Olympics athlete for 12 years and participates in alpine skiing, swimming, floor hockey, and track and field with Special Olympics British Columbia. She has had many leadership opportunities including being the Chair of the Canadian Athlete Leadership Council and sitting on the Canadian Board of Directors. Susan is hard working, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. She always has a smile on her face and exudes positivity in everything she does. She loves to be creative and has a strong passion for creating media content on YouTube and taking pictures. Outside of Special Olympics, Susan always strives to make a positive difference in the community by volunteering with the City of Surrey in city-wide special events and summer day camps. She received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and has worked as a substitute teacher in childcare centers.
“I would like to be a SSGM so I can represent Canada in a meaningful way and give my diverse perspective on different topics while meeting different people from around the world. As a SSGM I hope to educate, inspire, and move people in different ways.” - Susan Wang, Sargent Shriver Global Messenger North America
The new class of SSGMs will meet at Special Olympics headquarters in Washington, DC, for in-depth training from May 6 – 10 to fine-tune their skills as global spokespersons.
Named for the late Sargent Shriver, husband of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Sargent Shriver Global Messengers have been selected through a competitive application process for more than 20 years. The 2024 – 2027 class of ten was selected from 99 nominations from 25 U.S. states and 29 countries.
Meet all 10 Sargent Shriver Global Messengers of 2024-2027: