Longtime Special Olympics athlete and Athlete Ambassador Caitlin Roy of Finchville has been recognized as the 2026 Pinnacle Positive Impact Award. The presentation was made at the <LOCATION> following the Special Olympics Kentucky Athlete Leadership Program graduation ceremony there.

Roy has been a Special Olympics athlete for more than 20 years, competing in basketball, bowling, flag football, softball and track and field. She has made two trips to the Special Olympics USA Games, winning a gold medal in the 200 meters and silver in the 100 meters at the 2018 Games in Seattle, then claiming silver in the 400 meters to go with a gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2022 Games in Orlando, Fla.

In 2018, Roy was honored by the Louisville Courier-Journal as the Louisville area Special Olympics Athlete of the Year as part of their Louisville Sports Awards Program that honored high school athletes from throughout the region. In 2022, Roy was named Special Olympics Kentucky Athlete of the Year.

Roy is a 2019 graduate of the Athlete Leadership Program class and has made her mark mentoring athletes in the classes that came after her as well as teammates in her Shelby County Stars program. She works part-time as a receptionist in the Special Olympics Kentucky office and often helps manage fellow athletes doing volunteer work in the office in addition to her other responsibilities.

“Caitlin is always looking out for fellow athletes & co-workers and providing help when needed.” fellow Athlete Ambassador and past Pinnacle Positive Impact Award winner Katie Williams said while announcing the award.

When not busy with Special Olympics activities, Roy enjoys video games and spending time with her family.

The Pinnacle Positive Impact Award was developed in conjunction with Athlete Leadership Program presenting sponsor Pinnacle Financial Services to honor graduates of the Athlete Leadership Program who, through their leadership and service, makes a positive impact on our program. To qualify for the award, an Athlete Leader has to have been active for at least two years, must engage with all levels of program stakeholders with respect, professionalism and passion, understands and embrace their role as a leader, demonstrates leadership while providing positive input and energy at all levels of their involvement in Special Olympics, provide encouragement and support to their fellow athletes to help them be successful, have made a positive impact on the SOKY program (at any level) and show good sportsmanship.

For more information about the Pinnacle Positive Impact Award contact Brennan Smith at 502-695-8222 or bsmith@soky.org.

Pinnacle Positive Impact Award Winners
2024 – Jennifer Hamilton, Owensboro; Hayden Redmon, Louisville; Katie Williams, Central City
2025 – Luke Rutterer, Ft. Mitchell
2026 – Caitlin Roy, Finchville