An update from Nathon Horton, Special Olympics Virginia Athlete Board Representative

When I was elected to the Board, I knew what I was taking on. I'm not just sitting in a chair with my name on it. I'm carrying the voice of every athlete who trusted me to listen, speak up, and advocate for what we need.

This year has been something I never expected, not because I'm in the spotlight. I'm not the story here. It's because every door that has opened for me opens a window for other athletes to see what's possible.
I was invited to speak at the French Embassy about opening doors to inclusion and Unified Sports. This was bigger than Virginia. I stood in front of Tim Shriver, David Evangelista from Special Olympics International, and leaders and honored guests from around the world. 

I talked about us. I talked about what it means to feel like you do not belong and then finding a place where you do.

I talked about why we cannot simply sit on the sidelines while others make decisions that affect our lives. Not because it is the right thing to do, but because everything changes when people in positions of power truly understand what life is like for people with intellectual disabilities when they hear it directly from us.
While attending Summer Games in June, I had the honor to meet and interview several track and field award-winning athletes as part of the live event feed, as well as visit competitions around Richmond and see what our athletes could do when they're supported and celebrated.

But Summer Games weekend brought sad news too. Dave Pawlowski announced his retirement as Vice President of Sports, Health & Fitness. I just want to thank him for everything he's done. His dedication was incredible and made SOVA's Healthy Athlete program one of the top in the USA. His legacy will live on as this program continues to grow. And who knows, maybe we'll see him make a guest appearance at Summer Games one year in the future.

It was an honor to attend the USA Games in Minneapolis for the first time. Forty-one medals came home to Virginia, which is a tremendous accomplishment. The Games brought together more than 100,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers, and fans at venues across the Twin Cities, including the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis and the National Sports Center in Blaine.

While I was there, I had the privilege of reconnecting with the First Spouses and Virginia's First Gentleman. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to speak to them, and knowing that my remarks played a role in inspiring many of them to attend the Games meant a great deal to me. It is amazing what can happen when people truly listen and understand the impact of Special Olympics.

And here is some exciting news: the next USA Games will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2030.

So, athletes, listen up. Train hard over the next four years and give it your all. In 2029, athletes who earn a gold medal in a sport for which Special Olympics Virginia has USA Games quotas will be eligible to enter the selection draw. If you have never attended the USA Games, I can tell you that it is truly a life-changing and eye-opening experience. You will not want to miss it.

Photos from the week can be found at specialolympicsva.smugmug.com/Sports/2026-USA-Games, and you can meet the full team at www.specialolympicsva.org/meet-the-team.
In May, I sent out a survey to athletes across Virginia. First, I want to thank everyone who took the time to fill it out. You showed up and helped shine a light on the realities of our program.

One of the biggest needs I heard about was the need for younger partners and program leaders in our Area programs. Our leadership is aging, and that includes me. We need to build bench strength so younger leaders can learn from those with years of experience, and so longtime leaders have the opportunity to pass along their knowledge before it is lost.

But the most common concern I heard was transportation. Although Special Olympics is not a transportation service, I am committed to pushing for solutions to this overwhelming challenge for our athletes. It matters. Many athletes cannot get to practices, competitions, and events because they do not have reliable transportation. We need to spend time addressing this barrier.

I'm bringing the survey's findings back to the Board. I will share the challenges program participants, validate their experiences and the hurdle they're facing. Real change cannot happen after just one survey and in just one year, but starting conversations now is the first step.

Ready to make your voice heard? Contact Nathon at nhorton@specialolympicsva.org