MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Team Missouri kicked off preliminary competition at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Monday, with athletes from across the state posting wins, personal bests, and moments of sportsmanship on Day 1 of the national event, held June 20–26 at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine.
Missouri’s delegation includes 78 athletes and Unified Partners competing in 12 sports: Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Flag Football, Golf, Pickleball, Powerlifting, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, and Volleyball.
Local and Regional Highlights
- Louis Metro area: Swimmer Allison Zigaitis won the delegation’s first gold medal of the Games — and the first medal of her swimming career — in the 50-yard breaststroke. Fellow St. Louis-area swimmer Sam Karagiannis advanced to finals in the 50-yard event, set for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Flag football athlete Jude Coons, also of the St. Louis Metro area, turned in one of the day’s most talked-about plays, breaking into a full sprint after a catch — a burst of speed his coaches say they had never seen from him before. Pickleball athlete Florica Gault advanced into the women’s bracket’s higher division alongside her doubles partner.
- Southeast Missouri (Cape Girardeau/Jackson area): Bowler Kayla Dannenmueller is in line for a likely medal in women’s singles, pending final confirmation. Dannenmueller’s coaches say she has grown tremendously in confidence and independence over the past five years of competition.
- Columbia: Swimmer Mariah Lucero said meeting new people and having supportive coaches have been highlights of her Games experience.
- Joseph: Golf athlete Darrin Ellis continued to show steady improvement on the course Tuesday.
- Jefferson City: Track and field athlete Joseph (Joe) Collins finished 8th in Tuesday’s 400m, racing in the event’s fastest and most competitive heat, the latest step in his first national competition.
- Independence: Bocce athlete Eric Schmitt and unified partner Ivory Traylor (KC Metro)won silver in unified doubles, part of a full medal sweep for Team Missouri’s bocce program Tuesday: gold for Jennie Crabbe (Springfield) and Charity O’Bannon (Springfield), a second silver for mother-daughter duo Kelsey Porter and Julie Porter (KC Metro), and bronze for Anthony Mitchell (KC Metro) and Molly Schuster (Boonville).
Across All Sports
Volleyball won both of its matches Tuesday, advancing into the top division and earning a spot in Wednesday’s semifinals. Flag football reached Division 1 for the first time — a goal the team has worked toward since August — and now sits one win away from a gold-medal matchup against Pennsylvania; notably, this team has only competed together since June. Tennis swept all three doubles matches and went a combined 6-of-7 in singles play. Softball improved to 3-1 on the week with a 12–7 win over South Dakota, though a second game was canceled due to weather. Pickleball completed preliminary play and advances to medal rounds on Wednesday. Basketball had a difficult day on the court but received an encouraging visit from track and field teammates following their own events. Afternoon outdoor events at the Games were cut short due to the weather in the Minneapolis area.
About the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games are taking place June 20–26 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, bringing together roughly 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches representing all 50 states, competing in 16 team and individual sports. The event is supported by more than 10,000 volunteers and an anticipated 75,000 fans. Team Missouri — known as “MO Magic” — earned its spot through a multi-step qualification process: athletes won a gold medal in their sport the year prior, attended a selection camp, and were ultimately selected to represent Missouri at the national Games.