Special Olympics Michigan is sending three athletes and two coaches to the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece June 25-July 4. 

Photo includes (left to right):

• Coach Maciej Litkowiec from Area 26 (Detroit) for Aquatics
• Athlete Molly Hincka from Brighton in Area 27 (Livingston County) for Athletics
• Athlete David Foust from Canton in Area 23 (Wayne County) for Aquatics
• Athlete Sabra Shelton from Stevensville in Area 17 (Van Buren, Berrien and Cass Counties) for Aquatics
• Coach Deb Schultz from Area 30 (Midland County) for Golf

You can make an online donation to help cover the cost to send each athlete.

Click here to donate to David Foust

Click here to donate to Molly Hincka

Click here to donate to Sabra Shelton

Team USA Training Camp
Three athletes and two coaches from Special Olympics Michigan will join other members from around the United States for the Team USA Training Camp in San Diego, California March 26-30.! This will be an exciting time for teammates and coaches to get to know one another, as well as to focus on training for competing on the world stage. This time is intended for bonding as sports teams and as Team USA as a whole. To see the entire Team USA delegation of athletes and coaches by team or state click here.

World Summer Games
For the 2011 Team USA Fact Sheet click here

What: 13th Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Greece

When: June 25-July 4, 2011

Who: Team USA - 314 athletes and 126 coaches/staff

Volunteers: An estimated 25,000 volunteers and 3,000 event officials/referees

Where: Various venues in and around Athens, Greece

Team USA Sports: Athletics, Aquatics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Golf, Gymnastics, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball

Athens Venues: 30 sports venues to be used for the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Team USA Training Camp: March 28-April 1 at San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.

Team USA Sponsors: Champion is the official performance apparel of Special Olympics Team USA. Also sponsoring Team USA is the American Federation of Teachers.

Special Olympics is not only transforming the lives of athletes and their families, but also entire communities, breaking down barriers and acting as a force for social change around the world. Through millions of individual acts of inclusion where people with and without intellectual disabilities are brought together through Special Olympics, longstanding myths are dispelled, negative attitudes changed, and new opportunities to embrace and celebrate the giftedness of people with intellectual disabilities are created. The Special Olympics movement can ultimately transform communities by inspiring people throughout the world to open their minds, accept and include people with intellectual disabilities and thereby celebrate the similarities common to all people. Special Olympics is not about "swifter, higher, stronger" - it is about achieving one's personal best. It is not about being the best, but about being one's best.

Molly Hincka from Brighton will be competing in athletics. Molly has been involved with Special Olympics Michigan for 11 years. She enjoys running in 5Ks, dancing to music and watching sports. Molly runs every day. She was on her high school cross country team for four years and was captain her senior year. Molly is friendly and likes to help others. Molly is also a Global Messenger who helps share the message and mission about Special Olympics Michigan. She is excited to compete at world games. "I am so proud! I feel so happy and excited to be on the USA Team! I will meet a lot of people and tell them about Special Olympics! Go USA!!" said Molly. Molly is also featured in a national Procter & Gamble television commercial. Molly and her mom will also be featured in a May Procter & Gamble BrandSAVER.

David Foust from Canton will be competing in aquatics. David has been involved with Special Olympics Michigan since he was in grade school and has participated in bowling, poly hockey, aquatics, softball and basketball. David works at Holiday Market in Canton as a bagger and in the bottle room. He has served as the athlete representative on the Special Olympics Michigan Board of Directors. David has done two Polar Plunges. He enjoys reading, and talking about television shows and movies. David said, "It is an honor to be chosen to compete at World Games. It will be very interesting and a chance to meet other athletes from all over the world."

Sabra Shelton from Stevensville will be competing in aquatics. Sabra has been involved with Special Olympics Michigan for many years. She enjoys swimming, dance, playing Scrabble and going to Cubs games. She says the opportunity to attend World Games "It means my dream come true, swimming for all athletes as well as myself." Sabra said, "Special Olympics Michigan has given me friends, it has allowed me to develop a sense of accomplishment I myself. I now know I can conquer anything that comes my way with hard work and dedication. I've found something I truly love"

The coaches representing Special Olympics Team USA and Michigan are:
Coach Maciej Litkowiec from Clinton Twp. for aquatics
Coach Deb Schultz from Midland for golf

Click here to visit the 2011 World Summer Games official website.