Kentucky is sending more than just our competition delegation to the Special Olympics USA Games later this month in Minneapolis, Minn. Two Special Olympics Kentucky athletes will also be headed to the Games in very unique roles.

Longtime Special Olympics Kentucky athlete Tonya Cornett of Paris will be going to Minnesota to serve as a judge in the artistic gymnastics competition. For Cornett this is the fourth over all trip to the USA Games and second as judge. Cornett won four gold medals and one bronze as part of the “Fab Five” gymnastics team that Kentucky sent to the 2018 USA Games in Seattle. She also served as an artistic gymnastics judge in 2022 in Orlando.

In 2023, Cornett broke new ground when she traveled to Berlin to serve as a gymnastics judge at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games. She was the first World Games athlete judge in the program’s history. It was also the third overall trip to the World Games for Cornett who won a silver medal in the rhythmic gymnastics all-around to go with three event bronze medals at the 2003 World Games in Dublin. She added two silver medals and three bronze including the all-around in artistic gymnastics at the 2019 World Games in Abu Dhabi.

Murray, who lives at Stewart Home and School in Frankfort was announced as one of three athletes chosen to serve as part of the Special Olympics North America Media Team. She joins Tommy Holleman from Northern California and Michael Kelley from Massachusetts. Murray got the news that she had been selected in February while she was in Washington, D.C., to participate in the Special Olympics Capitol Hill Day. In her role, Murray will be telling athlete stories from the Games with the photo and print teams.

“I am incredibly excited and grateful to be joining the USA Special Olympics Games 2026 Media Team,” Murray said. “This opportunity is truly an honor, and I feel so proud to represent a movement that has changed my life in so many positive ways. I am especially excited to attend my very first USA Games—a dream I have had for many years. Being selected for this role makes me feel valued, inspired, and deeply appreciated. I look forward to sharing athletes’ stories, celebrating inclusion, and helping showcase the amazing spirit, determination, and joy that make Special Olympics so special.”

In addition to her selection to the SONA Media Team, Murray was also recently announced as a member of the Louisville City FC Unified Soccer Team that will play its first match later this year.

For more information about the USA Games or about Special Olympics Kentucky’s participation at the Games contact Mark Buerger at 502-695-8222 or mbuerger@soky.org