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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Sarah McCarthy

Meet Team Canada athlete Sarah McCarthy

The 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games might be more than nine months away, but that isn’t slowing down cross-country skier Sarah McCarthy, who...

Cole Davis

Meet Alberta volunteer Cole Davis

Cole Davis thrives on the smell of chlorine and the sounds of swimming strokes in the pool. At 62 years old, Cole Davis is spreading the power and joy...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Sarah McCarthy

Meet Team Canada athlete Sarah McCarthy

The 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games might be more than nine months away, but that isn’t slowing down cross-country skier Sarah McCarthy, who...

Cole Davis

Meet Alberta volunteer Cole Davis

Cole Davis thrives on the smell of chlorine and the sounds of swimming strokes in the pool. At 62 years old, Cole Davis is spreading the power and joy...