Fifteen Special Olympics Florida athletes and Unified partners, including two tennis athletes from Osceola County, Brandon Mailly, and Gerard Mailly, traveled to Berlin, Germany, to compete in the Special Olympics World Games. The Florida athletes have joined other members of Special Olympics USA as they take on about 7,000 athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries.
Special Olympics Florida competitors include cyclists, tennis players, basketball players, and an open-water swimmer. The full list of Special Olympics Florida athletes is included below.
“We are incredibly proud of the Special Olympics Florida athletes who are part of Special Olympics USA at the World Games in Berlin,” said Special Olympics Florida President & CEO Sherry Wheelock. “They are tremendous ambassadors of our mission and are showing the world that people with intellectual disabilities can accomplish remarkable things, if they are just given the opportunity.”
The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sporting event, bringing together thousands of athletes with mental and multiple disabilities. The Games are being televised on ESPN. Special Olympics Florida athletes competing in Berlin include:
- Brandon Mailly (Osceola County) – tennis
- Gerard Mailly, Unified partner (Osceola County) – tennis
- Maxwell Verduin (Orange County) – cycling
- Mollie O’Connell (Sarasota County) – cycling
- Gina Grant (Broward County) – open water swim
The Alachua All Stars, a University of Florida Unified basketball team is also there. The Alachua All Stars are:
- Kiondre Brown (athlete, Alachua County)
- Robert McCann (athlete, Alachua County)
- Mathias Misener (athlete, Alachua County)
- Ivory Richardson (athlete, Alachua County)
- Joseph Rosenstock (athlete, Alachua County)
- Catherine Crowley (Unified partner, Denver, CO)
- Lance Duch (Unified partner, Manatee County)
- William Munro (Unified partner, Denver, CO)
- Lysander Reyes Santana (Unified partner, Bay County)
- Savana Brashears (Unified partner, Palm Beach County)