Meet Athlete Brandon MacArthur
Throughout nearly three decades in Special Olympics, SOBC – Abbotsford athlete Brandon MacArthur has found fun and community through sport.
MacArthur joined Special Olympics at four years old, and now at 29, he brings the same passion and enthusiasm when playing his sport.
“The thing I love about playing floorball is just having fun. I love every bit of it,” says MacArthur with a smile.
Floorball is a new addition to Special Olympics Canada’s roster, introduced in 2024. Bruce Watkins, SOBC – Abbotsford coach, says that athletes have really enjoyed the new addition: “It’s a very quick game and all the athletes seem to have taken to it very, very well.”
“I love hard work, love dedication. I just love every part of it,” says MacArthur.
Reflecting on his childhood, MacArthur says that he couldn’t join many sports teams growing up, but getting involved with Special Olympics made a big impact on him.
He says that he’s “played with so many good friends and met so many people over the years” that have enriched his life on and off playing fields.
Coach Watkins says it is great to watch athletes grow and develop throughout the years, emphasizing how connected teams become: “They always help each other. They are very in tune with each other,” he says, adding that it is fantastic to see athletes beam and smile while playing their sports.
When asked if others should join Special Olympics, MacArthur says to “do it” as it “keeps you healthy and keeps you very, very busy.”
Emphasizing how much joy Special Olympics has brought to his life, MacArthur says that “this is what I love to do and I want to keep playing for a long, long time.”
Article by Leah Warren, BCIT Online & Broadcast Journalism