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.

Matthew and Crystal hug on their wedding day while looking into the camera.

Happy Valentine's Day from Special Olympics' Matthew and Crystal Williams

Langley B.C.’s Matthew and Crystal Williams are high school sweethearts who met through their special education class at Walnut Grove Secondary School...

Tracey Melesko cross country skis in front of a tree line.

Kelowna’s Tracey Melesko leads Special Olympics Team BC cross-country skiers to success ahead of Winter Games

Special Olympics Team British Columbia’s cross-country skiers are a tight-knit group bound for success with longtime Kelowna athlete Tracey Melesko at the helm.

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.

Matthew and Crystal hug on their wedding day while looking into the camera.

Happy Valentine's Day from Special Olympics' Matthew and Crystal Williams

Langley B.C.’s Matthew and Crystal Williams are high school sweethearts who met through their special education class at Walnut Grove Secondary School...

Tracey Melesko cross country skis in front of a tree line.

Kelowna’s Tracey Melesko leads Special Olympics Team BC cross-country skiers to success ahead of Winter Games

Special Olympics Team British Columbia’s cross-country skiers are a tight-knit group bound for success with longtime Kelowna athlete Tracey Melesko at the helm.

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.