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Park “the Shark” Gilmer is a Special Olympics Minnesota superstar athlete with a killer backstroke technique, a beaming smile, and a great nickname. Every time Park competes in the pool, he wears temporary tattoos on his back and arms of SHARKS, giving him that extra boost of confidence and focus. (It works, by the way – check out the silver medal Park won at the USA Games!)

“Park the Shark” might be fun to cheer aloud, but when an athlete with intellectual disabilities (ID) finds their unique nickname through Special Olympics, they discover much more than a playful alias. Through these sports, they find acceptance, comradery, and identity. Donate to help more athletes like Park the Shark get in the game and earn their nickname >>

Park may swim like a shark when he competes, but out of the pool, he is all about his family and friends. Both of his parents have served as Heads of Delegation for Park’s team, the Buffalo Stampede, and his older brother is a Special Olympics softball and poly hockey coach. You’ll even find his great aunt swimming with him, too!

A kid who used to have a hard time in school, Park is now a medal-winning, multi-event top swimmer in Minnesota who was welcomed home from last summer’s USA Games by a crowd of hundreds chanting his nickname… “Park the Shark! Park the Shark! Park the Shark!” 

Support athletes like Park the Shark with a donation today. We need 250 donors by Friday to help courageous athletes with ID find the nicknames and sense of self that last a LIFETIME.

Thank you for all you do,

Monica Muten
Senior Director, Direct Response Marketing