Champions of the Heart

Eunice Kennedy Shriver put her passion for disabled children and giving them access to sports through her summer camps in 1962, allowing children to make a mark on history. It would then grow into the Special Olympics that we know today. The Special Olympics World Games will be making history again this summer in Los Angeles where over 160 countries will participate, with 7,000 athletes competing in 25 sports at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Athletes, who can compete up to 70-years of age, will compete in volleyball, basketball, track, and tennis. The event has attracted first lady Michelle Obama, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Phelps, and many other celebrities. But this is more about the athletes than those in attendance-- this is a platform for the underdog to shine. These are stories of hope from athletes raised in foster homes, working hard to prove they could be independent. These are stories of people who were not expected to live, or even stand on their own—they did it. This is America, and we will look at some of the stories that shaped these athletes, making them champions of our hearts.