World Winter Games Turin 2025
The Special Olympics World Winter Games are the world’s largest inclusive winter sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together in a variety of winter sports, such as alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Nine days of exciting and inspiring competitions, by athletes and for athletes.
From March 8 – 16 2025, the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 will take place in Turin – the first time that Italy will host the Games! We are looking forward to a colorful international festival of sports – with the aim of achieving greater recognition and social participation of people with intellectual disabilities in our society.
Five Kansas athletes have been nominated to be part of Special Olympics USA at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. All nominated members of Special Olympics USA will come together in Salt Lake City April 18-21 for Team Trials. A mix of team bonding, sports training, health education, and administrative tasks will take place.
Meet the Athletes
Five Kansas athletes have been nominated to be part of Special Olympics USA at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. Please consider supporting the athletes in their trip to Italy by investing in their fundraising campaign.
Allie Schell of Frankfort, Kansas, first competed in Special Olympics in 2010. Since, she has competed in various sports, assisted with fundraising efforts and volunteered at community events hosted by Special Olympics. In the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, she will represent Special Olympics USA in Alpine skiing. Through her involvement with Special Olympics, Allie has become more independent and confident.
Five days a week, she works at a thrift store, sorting, stocking and assisting customers. Twice a week, she cleans at a local senior center. Every Saturday, she attends Project EXCEL at Kansas State University, which provides a college experience for individuals with disabilities. Her training regimen includes walking her dog, riding her bike and exercising with a trainer. She looks forward to taking on the slopes with Special Olympics USA.
Bekah Henderson of Topeka, Kansas, was introduced to Special Olympics 19 years ago and has competed in a variety of sports, including athletics, basketball, cheerleading, powerlifting and snowshoeing. In the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, she will represent Special Olympics USA in snowshoeing. Bekah has competed in three Special Olympics USA Games, participating in bowling, swimming and powerlifting. She has also competed in two Special Olympics North America Softball Championships. In 2009, she was named the Most Inspirational Athlete by Special Olympics Kansas. Three years later, she was recognized as one of the Big 12 Conference Special Olympics Athletes of the Year.
She is employed as a barista at Dialogue Coffee House, working alongside adults with disabilities. For nearly 20 years, she has dreamed of competing in a Special Olympics World Games. Now, that dream becomes a reality.
Brady Tanner of Lawrence, Kansas, first competed in Special Olympics 35 years ago. From competing in sports and Special Olympics Unified Sports® to supporting Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics and Polar Plunge® efforts, Brady is an active leader. Special Olympics has done more than change his life, it has become his life. In 2006, Brady competed in powerlifting at the Special Olympics USA Games, where he won two gold medals and one bronze medal. In the Special Olympics World Games Athens 2011, he competed again in powerlifting, winning three gold medals and one silver medal. For his return to the Special Olympics World Games, he will represent Special Olympics USA in snowshoeing.
Brady is the first Special Olympics athlete to be inducted into the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and the World Association of Benchers and Dead Lifters Hall of Fame. He is prepared to do his best in competition on an international stage.
Layne Warner of Bonner Springs, Kansas, has spent the past 15 years competing in Special Olympics sports, including athletics, bocce, bowling, snowshoeing and swimming. His first time attending a Special Olympics World Games, Layne will represent Special Olympics USA in snowshoeing. In becoming an athlete leader, Layne worked to overcome his fear of public speaking and now serves as a Health Messenger.
Inspired by his mother’s independent nature, Layne has learned to be self-sufficient. He currently works at Walmart in the online grocery department. To prepare for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, Layne incorporates running into his training regimen. He is honored to represent the United States and looks forward to competing alongside new friends.
Lisa Elsener of Prairie Village, Kansas, started competing in Special Olympics at 8 years old, 46 years ago. Participating in four Special Olympics World Games, Lisa has won medals in figure skating, short track speed skating and swimming. For her return to the Special Olympics World Games, she will represent Special Olympics USA in Alpine skiing. In 1998, Lisa competed in the International Paralympic Committee Swimming World Championships, held in New Zealand. Lisa has set countless records and earned numerous awards through her participation in sports. In 1990, her efforts were celebrated through her induction into the Special Olympics Kansas Hall of Fame.
For 35 years, she has worked in dining services for Johnson County Community College. An avid runner, she has spent more than three decades completing triathlons. Traveling to Italy to represent her country is a dream come true for Lisa.
Five Kansas athletes qualified for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025. This fundraiser is to help cover the costs associated with getting to the games. Please consider supporting these deserving individuals as they head off to compete with the best of the best.
Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will be held from 8 to 16 March 2025 in Italy (Torino, Bardonecchia, Sestriere and Pragelato) and in France (Grenoble). These Games will host more than 1,500 athletes from 103 countries in eight sport disciplines: Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skling, DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Short Track Speed Skating, Snowboarding.
and Snowshoeing.
This event will be the first Special Olympics World Winter Games since 2017, bringing about a unique opportunity to shine a light on the many abilities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through competitive sports.
In addition to uniting Special Olympics athletes, the Games will attract media and bring together more than 1,000 coaches and delegation officials, 2,000 volunteers, and 100,000 spectators. A fully inclusive world where sport unifies people with intellectual disabilities and affirms their inherent human rights to sport, education, culture, healthcare, and living full lives.
