What are your biggest accomplishments?: Jesse has mild cerebral palsy and has excelled at sports due to Special Olympics. And it has greatly helped his social skills.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: Jesse has made many new friends. I get to do many fun sports and I am active and healthy.
What does Special Olympics and competing in the USA Games mean to you?: I get to represent St. Mary’s (Jesse’s local program) and my state of Kentucky. I am so proud and excited to get to go to the USA Games to compete and meet new friends. I am coming to win and have fun! I am so proud and excited to be chosen to be on Team Kentucky.

Michael Willard, 36, of Louisville has been a Special Olympics athlete for 21 years and has competed in bocce for the last five. He also competes in basketball, bowling and track and field. This will be his first trip to a National or World Games event. He works at Walmart.

What are your biggest accomplishments?: I graduated from duPont Manual High School. I have worked for Walmart for 10 years.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: I became more talkative and made lots of friends.
What does Special Olympics and competing in the USA Games mean to you?: It is the trip of a lifetime. I am very excited that my bocce coach was picked to go on this amazing trip.