Hometown: Lawrence
Sport: Flag Football
Brady Tanner of Lawrence, Kansas, has been a part of Special Olympics for an incredible 37 years, building a lifelong legacy of determination, resilience, and sportsmanship. Competing in flag football at the 2026 USA Games in Minnesota, Brady brings decades of experience and passion to the national stage. Over the years, he has participated in a wide range of sports, including powerlifting, basketball, track and field, softball, cheerleading, soccer, swimming, volleyball, bocce, cornhole, golf, and Healthy Athletes activities.
Special Olympics has shaped every part of Brady’s life. “Special Olympics has been my life,” he shares. “I don’t know life without it.” His journey has included significant challenges, including double hip replacements that required him to relearn how to walk. Through perseverance and hard work, Brady came full circle—returning to competition stronger than ever and continuing to inspire those around him.
Among his proudest accomplishments are being inducted into five different Hall of Fames for his achievements in powerlifting. Brady has also represented Kansas on the world stage, competing at the 2006 USA Games in Ames, Iowa; the 2011 World Games in Athens, Greece; and the 2025 World Games in Turin, Italy for snowshoeing. Each experience has strengthened his love for competition, camaraderie, and making new friends through sport.
Outside of athletics, Brady has worked at the University of Kansas for 25 years as a dishwasher in one of the residence hall dining facilities. He enjoys camping, spending time with family, coloring while watching sports, and cheering on his favorite local hero, Patrick Mahomes. As he prepares for the 2026 USA Games by attending every practice session possible, Brady looks forward to competing alongside fellow athletes and continuing to do what he loves most—being part of the Special Olympics family and sharing the joy of sport.
