60 Athletes, Coaches and Staff to Represent the United States at Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025
Special Olympics USA is proud to announce that it will send a 160-member delegation to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, being held March 8-16, 2025.
Special Olympics USA is comprised of 101 athletes and Unified partners, 32 coaches and 27 delegation members who support team operations. Athletes will compete in the eight sports offered: Alpine skiing, cross country skiing, DanceSport, figure skating, floorball, snowboarding and speedskating.
The delegation also includes Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams, which join people with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together, as teammates. Special Olympics USA will have representation in Unified floorball.
Five athletes and one coach will represent Special Olympics Kansas (SOKS) in 2 sports: Allison Schell and Lisa Elsener will compete in Alpine Skiing, and Brady Tanner, Bekah Henderson, and Layne Warner will compete in Snowshoeing. John Lair will coach.
To learn more about the Special Olympics USA delegation, please visit www.specialolympicsusa.org for a full delegation listing, photos and bios.
Special Olympics USA is the national delegation that represents the United States at the Special Olympics World Games. Delegation members compete in an array of the 30-plus official Special Olympics sports, in individual and team formats.
Every two years, the world transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion to come together for the Special Olympics World Games. Alternating between summer and winter Games, this event is the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement, which promotes inclusion, equality and acceptance around the world.
“Attending World Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these athletes and Unified partners and is the culmination of years of hard work, determination and commitment,” said Brock Banos, Head of Delegation for Special Olympics USA. “In addition to competing on the world stage, they will experience new cultures, creating countless memories and lifelong friendships. I encourage every American to cheer for Special Olympics USA, celebrate the triumphs of the athletes and Unified partners, and take pride in knowing that each member of our delegation will represent our country with excellence and honor. Go, Special Olympics USA!”
“I am incredibly honored to attend as a coach alongside five outstanding Kansas athletes,” said John Lair, CEO and President of SOKS. “This is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of determination from these athletes and the limitless potential that lies within each of us. I’m so excited to support them as they take on the world stage, and cheer them on through this entire experience. I encourage everyone to as well.”
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will take place from March 8 -16, 2025, gathering over 1,500 athletes from 103 countries to compete in eight winter sports and showcase the determination of people with intellectual disabilities and the power of inclusion through sport. World Winter Games events will be held in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy.
ESPN’s television networks and digital platforms will bring extensive coverage to sports fans and supporters of the Special Olympics movement around the world. As the official global broadcast partner of Special Olympics, ESPN will deliver live and recorded highlights on its family of TV channels, the ESPN+ streaming service, ESPN3, ESPN.com and the ESPN App.
Bank of America is the Premier Sponsor of Special Olympics USA. Champion is the Official Supplier and Supporter of Special Olympics USA. MTM is Recognition Partner of Special Olympics USA.
To follow Special Olympics USA, visit www.specialolympicsusa.org, join the email list, and follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/specialolympicsusa,Twitter: @specialolyUSA and Instagram: @specialolympicsusa. Hashtag: #Cheer4USA
For more information about the SOKS delegates please contact Ashley Pippin, Digital Marketing Coordinator, Special Olympics Kansas, at pippina@soks.org. For more information about the Special Olympics USA delegation or the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, please contact Rachel McQuiston, Director of Marketing and Communications, Special Olympics North America, at rmcquiston@specialolympics.org.
