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
- Jefferson City: Athlete Joseph (Joe) Collins, the only Team Missouri athlete representing Jefferson City this year, opened his first national competition with a 400m preliminary run Monday. He returns to the track later this week for the 200m (Tuesday) and 100m (Wednesday).
- Southeast Missouri (Cape Girardeau/Jackson area): The “MO Magic” volleyball squad — including Jackson athletes Bayley James and Tim Kunz, alongside Rebecca Shackleford and teammates from across the region — swept both of its matches on Day 1. James, competing in her first national Games, said hitting and spiking are her favorite parts of the sport. Kunz and Shackleford were also interviewed by Special Olympics North America (SONA) following the win.
- Wentzville: Flag football athletes Fernandez “Ferni” Liddell, Will Roberts, and Ryan Blazer helped power a 33–10 win. Head coach Gene Blazer — Ryan’s father — said the team’s biggest moment came when Liddell paused mid-game to check on an opposing player after the two collided on the field. Roberts also connected for a touchdown pass during the win.
- Springfield and Lee’s Summit: Tennis athletes Owen Lambert (Springfield) and Robert “Bobby” Williams (Lee’s Summit) won their first two doubles matches, 6–0 and 5–1. Williams also swept his singles matches.
- Louis area (Bridgeton and Ballwin): Track and field athletes Terrence Winfield (Bridgeton) and Kenzie Hagen (Ballwin) each posted personal records in preliminary events — Winfield in the long jump (with a qualifying mark in mini-javelin) and Hagen in the 400m, where she shaved 10 seconds off her previous time.
- Moberly: Track and field athlete Kenlee Lewis posted a personal record in the shot put preliminary.
Across All Sports
Softball opened with a 40–3 win, swimming posted a come-from-behind preliminary heat win in the relay, and basketball’s roster fell in its opener despite what head coach Kathy Lowry called a season-best effort. Pickleball won 3 of 10 games, and golf and bowling continued competing through a challenging first day of qualifying rounds.
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.