“Teamwork” above all else, in Special Olympics Canada women’s soccer program
Running on the slippery grass of a freshly-rained on soccer pitch, Chantelle Weech managed to score a cross-field goal in the first minutes of her game at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026. While many players would consider making such a highlight-worthy play their lifelong goal, Chantelle seemed surprisingly unconcerned if she scored any points herself.
Written By: Callum Denault, Special Olympics Canada Athlete and Staff Member
“My main goal is for anyone to score,” she said, “I don’t care who gets it in. […] It makes it worth it to work together as a team, because when we win,we all get really excited.”
This selfless mindset was echoed by many of Chantelle’s fellow players on the Alberta Strikers, who were representing their home province in the women’s soccer division at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games 2026 in Medicine Hat.
“We’re so close we’re practically family,” said Strikers goalkeeper Crystal Savard about her teammates, “and our coaches are amazing, they have so much patience.”
First joining Special Olympics in 2001, Crystal said she enjoys the high-stakes position of goalkeeper because it lets her see the entire game at once and give helpful commands to her outfield teammates. On the work team with McMann Community Services, Crystal gets various odd jobs around Edmonton such as removing snow, cutting grass, picking up garbage, and whatever else her community needs.
One of the team’s defenders—Laura Dakin—agreed with Crystal in saying that her favourite thing about playing in Special Olympics is spending time with all the friends she made. Also playing in coed Special Olympics floor hockey, Laura added that she finds the women’s sports easier because her fellow athletes play better as a team.
“Being with a mixed team they always want to make a goal,” Laura said, “they always want to be up at that net. Here we work as a team, we pass, we work together.”
As previously covered, the decision to move forward with women’s only sports in addition to the traditional coed leagues was made in order to have a place where athletes like Laura can truly shine,even if they do not always feel comfortable playing with/against their male peers. This very same desire to fit in, is also what drives many Special Olympics athletes to the movement, regardless of their gender.
“I did try out for my high school soccer team,” recalled Strikers winger Jenny Murray, “I did not feel wanted. I tried out the soccer team in Special Olympics, it was like, ‘where was I all this time?’”
15 years later, Jenny is now joined by her sister Danielle Murray, who traveled with the Strikers to Medicine Hat as one of the team’s coaches. As playing in athletics and snowshoeing, Jenny spent some extra time running with Amanda Trenchard, another one of her Special Olympics soccer coaches. Together, Jenny and Amanda ran a full marathon (42 kilometres!), which Jenny said helped her ability to run around the field in soccer.
While many of the Strikers are experiencing their first national competition, they are joined by a veteran player. Jessica McLean—who has been in Special Olympics for just as long as Jenny—competed in the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2024 as a snowshoer.
“I came home with two bronze and a silver.” Jessica recalled excitedly, “I made some friends [in Italy] I still keep in touch with, and I’ve seen them playing other sports at the Special Olympic Canada Summer Games 2026!”
Thinking of all the friends she made on the Alberta Strikers, and how they made it to the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, Chantelle reflected on why she felt motivated to start this journey in the first place.
“I stayed because I love the sport,” she said, “I’m happy to participate! Special Olympics is very inclusive.”
“[Inclusion is] important because everyone should be treated equally,” she added, “we’re all the same.”