Category: Athlete
World Games Spotlight: Faith Demos
By Cesar Fernandez For Faith Demos golf is not just a sport, it is a family affair. She grew up watching her father play, an avid golfer since the age of 9. Now, she gets to take her family to new heights by competing against the world. She is one of six athletes from Special ...
World Games Spotlight: Krystal Johnson
By Julie Devine A new turn has approached as the 2019 Special Olympics World Games are imminent, and athletes are training harder than ever to prepare for an incredible seven days in Abu Dhabi. These elite competitors are intensifying their training, pushing harder, all to prepare for a trip worth remembering. For Special Olympics Southern ...
World Games Spotlight: Tyrone Garrett
Special Olympics has helped Tyrone Garrett achieve and experience many new things, and the greatest is yet to come. Tyrone is one of six Special Olympics Southern California athletes headed to Abu Dhabi for the 2019 Special Olympics World Games from March 14-21. “When I found out I was going to the World Games, I ...
INSIDE SOSC: Thriller in the OC
By Kelsey Lewis HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — More than 50 athletes and 40 volunteers were in attendance as four teams clashed in the 2019 Orange County Regional floor hockey competition at The RINKS in Huntington Beach on Feb. 9. The competition made for a busy bracket with each team playing at least two games throughout ...
‘Choose to Include – No Matter What’
CHULA VISTA – Students at Olympian High School had a packed gymnasium rocking, cheering on fellow classmates during a Special Olympics Unified basketball game. “Choose to include – no matter what!” was the chant, as the force of the growing “inclusion revolution” promoted by the organization’s Unified Champion Schools program continues to sweep the nation. ...
INSIDE SOSC: Recapping 2018
With two weeks remaining in the calendar year, it's time to look back on 2018. WeAreSOSC.org was created to help tell the stories of Special Olympics Southern California athletes and recap the various events and fundraisers. Here are some of the highlights (click subhead for full post): What it Means to Play Unified Back in ...
Respect: The R-Word Special Olympics Strives to Promote
Stephanie Hardy remembers what life was like as a high school student with intellectual disabilities. There were days she would walk through the quad and bullies would stuff her in a trashcan, and other days would come with name-calling. She wanted to be seen and acknowledged like the rest of the students – but not ...
An Opportunity to Shine
Think of any sporting event, at any level, and the athletes involved share common goals. The teams and individuals want to test themselves, striving to rise to the occasion and perform their very best when the stakes are the highest. Special Olympics Southern California athletes are no different, and they continue to prove that year-round ...
INSIDE SOSC: ‘More Than Sports’
Daree Jordan sees her son, Justus, as one of the many athletes who have gone through a transformative experience with Special Olympics Southern California. Among the biggest differences are in the confidence the 24-year-old carries and the camaraderie he shares with his fellow Special Olympics San Luis Obispo County athletes. "He just looks forward to ...
INSIDE SOSC: Plenty to be Thankful For
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, the athletes and supporters of Special Olympics Southern California have demonstrated throughout the year that there is plenty to be thankful for when it comes to their personal experiences. Whether it's through learning the basics of a new sport or simple encouragement, SOSC athletes continue to see their coaches as so ...