This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.ksl.com/article/51514157/team-utah-heads-to-special-olympics-usa-games-in-minnesota
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us
SALT LAKE CITY — It was an enormous day for Team Utah Friday as athletes headed to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
They got a particular sendoff at Signature Aviation in Salt Lake City earlier than boarding personal flights to Minneapolis.
“I just want to show the entire U.S. what I got,” mentioned athlete Ryker Shepard.
The Special Olympics USA Games is a nationwide competitors held each 4 years, bringing collectively hundreds of athletes from throughout the nation. This yr, Utah’s delegation consists of 70 athletes, Unified Sports companions and coaches.
Special Olympians will compete in sports activities together with basketball, swimming and bocce.
“This is such a great opportunity for these athletes,” mentioned swimming coach Wendy Harris.
“Many of my students and athletes never get this opportunity to shine and to really develop those athletic wings, and they have been able to go above and beyond all of our coaches’ expectations,” mentioned Team Utah Special Olympics basketball head coach and Westlake High School life abilities trainer Loretta McClure.
Unified Sports can be a significant a part of the Games, bringing athletes with and with out disabilities collectively on the identical group to advertise inclusion, teamwork and friendships on and off the sphere.
“It definitely is good cause then I get out of my shell and comfort zone,” mentioned athlete Abigail Cheshire.
Athletes are additionally hoping to convey dwelling medals for Team Utah.
“What I’m most excited for at the Olympics is to win gold as a team,” mentioned athlete Braeden Anderson.
The group departed amid cheers as athletes and coaches boarded their flights.
“I mean, look at how cool they are. They’re representing Utah pretty well if you ask me,” McClure mentioned.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games start Saturday in Minneapolis. Team Utah returns dwelling on June 27.
The Key Takeaways for this text have been generated with the help of massive language fashions and reviewed by our editorial group. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.ksl.com/article/51514157/team-utah-heads-to-special-olympics-usa-games-in-minnesota
and if you wish to take away this text from our web site please contact us
