Every four years, Special Olympics North America manages the national summer games in the United States that include athletes from all 52 US programs. The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, June 29-July 7, will bring not just 60 athletes, 20 coaches and 16 Unified Partners from Missouri, but more than 3,400 other delegates (athletes, coaches, and Unified Partners) from around the country to the greater Seattle area to compete in a variety of sports. Hosted at some of the region’s top athletic facilities in Washington, the 2018 USA Games will offer athletes and coaches a week of national competition while surrounded by Seattle’s beauty and world-class attractions.
Team Missouri will compete in nine different sports in the Emerald City (basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, powerlifting, softball, swimming, tennis and track and field) with athletes from all over the Show-Me State. Athletes and coaches have been training hard in preparation for the Games. The athletes competing in the sports of track and field, swimming, powerlifting, and softball will have an opportunity to hone their skills even more before Seattle at local competitions over the next 4-6 weeks. If you are interested in learning more about the delegates from your city representing Team Missouri, see the list below. If those athletes are competing in track and field, swimming, powerlifting or softball, there is probably a local competition near you where you could profile that athlete if you are interested.
Athletes and coaches attending the USA Games from north Missouri are listed below with their sport and role on the team. If media would like to set up a time to interview an athlete or coach at an upcoming training or competition, please contact Brandon Schatsiek at [email protected]. For those interested in seeing a short interview with each delegate, there are links listed below. Headshots and action shots of each delegate are also available by request. If any media outlet would like to use any photos or videos that we have on file of these athletes, please email [email protected].
For more information about Team Missouri or the USA Games, visit www.SOMO.org/USAGames or email [email protected]
| First | Last | Sport | Role | City | Spotlight |
| Simon | Caldwell | Tennis | Athlete | Savannah | YouTube |
| Matthew | Davidson | Bocce | Athlete | St. Joseph | YouTube |
| Paul | Davidson | Bocce | Unified Partner | St. Joseph | YouTube |
| Lauren | Gaines | Staff | Unified Youth Experience | Kirksville | YouTube |
| Michelle | Howell | Track | Sports Manager | Kirksville | YouTube |
| Dustin | Johnson | Track | Athlete | Kirksville | YouTube |
| Charlie | Phillips | Powerlifting | Athlete | Savannah | YouTube |
| Melody | Prawitz | Bocce | Unified Partner/Sports Manager | St. Joseph | YouTube |
| James | Ross | Bocce | Athlete | Trenton | YouTube |
Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 15,400 athletes participate in 21 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends, and communities across Missouri.
Special Olympics Missouri is proud of our financial health returning 85 percent of every dollar back to program services. We are privileged to be recognized with these honors: Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, Charity Navigator 3-star rating and an inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2013.
