Women’s History Month

Extraordinary and talented women worldwide are forging change. At Special Olympics, we are surrounded by women of grit who smash stereotypes and break biases every day to lead, motivate and bring about much-needed change.

Meet some of the exceptional women of our movement who have been pioneers in creating a more accepting and inclusive world for us all:

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LORETTA CLAIBORNE

Our Chief Inspiration Officer

Loretta Claiborne went from being non-verbal to becoming the voice of the Special Olympics movement. Her story is a journey of transformation beyond the discrimination and disrespect she experienced as a child, beyond the anger and fighting she resorted to as a teenager, to her emergence as an inspirational, global leader who lives life of service every single day in her community, country and the world.

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DAINA SHILTS

Embracing being different

Special Olympics snowboarder Daina Shilts is an athlete leader who’s as dynamic on the speaker’s podium as she is on the slopes. She says, “Special Olympics has taught me—and other people—that it's okay to be different." In fact, she says, “it's awesome" to be different.

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JASMINE SHARIF

Everyone deserves dignity and respect

Jasmine Sharif is a true inspiration! As a Special Olympics athlete with Sotos Syndrome, she's making a big difference in her home country of Pakistan and across the globe. Not only does she advocate for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, but she also leads by example as an assistant coach for Special Olympics Pakistan and travels the world to speak about the importance of inclusion.

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Eunice & Rosemary

Where it all started

The relationship between Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her sister Rosemary Kennedy was the root of the entire Special Olympics movement. Eunice was a trailblazer for equal rights and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). She saw how limited sports programs were for her sister, Rosemary, who had ID, and decided to do something about it. She founded Special Olympics, so people with ID had an equal chance to play, to learn, to compete, and to grow. She fought for justice, led with compassion, and started a life-changing movement for inclusion both on and off the field.

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Celebrate the achievements of women with and without ID who are shaping Special Olympics into a global movement that we know today.

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