Meet Wisconsin’s World Games Delegates

Watch out Los Angeles! A few new stars are coming to town. Three Wisconsin athletes, three coaches, two staff members and one Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) Final Leg runner will take center stage when they represent Team USA at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games from July 25-August 2, 2015. Meet your Team USA representatives!

Alex Guild, 24, of DePere will hit the pavement for the half marathon, 10K and 4×400 relay. With a total of more than 61 competitive races (including 19 10K’s, eight half-marathons and two marathons) under his belt, he’s ready for the challenge. You might remember Guild from the 2013 Winter World Games in South Korea, where he earned silver and bronze medals in snowshoe racing competitions.

Olivia Quigley, 23, of Brookfield will also compete in athletics, but her specialty is short distances; she’ll sprint in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Sound familiar? Quigley competed in athletics for her first time nationally at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey and won gold for her 4×100 relay, two silvers for the 100m and 200m and a bronze in the shot put. This will be her first time at World Games.

The pins won’t know what hit them when Michael Huebner, 46, of Beaver Dam approaches the alley to compete in singles, doubles and team bowling. He has competed in basketball, bowling, bocce and powerlifting over the past 15 years and is thrilled to experience his first international competition.

These athletes will gather with 7,000 of their peers from 177 countries to share with the world the true meaning of courage, joy, and determination. Athletes will compete in a total of 26 different sports at venues including USC and UCLA.

Wisconsin volunteers will cheer on our athletes every step of the journey. As Team USA athletics coaches, Bonnie Kahn of Tomahawk, Steve Meurett of Neillsville and Deb Moore-Greunloh of Nekoosa will work closely with the athletes to help them reach their goals. Between the three coaches, they have more than 80 years of experience with Special Olympics.

Special Olympics’ Regional Athletic Directors, Jerry Lyon and Mark Wolfgram, will also attend the Games. Wolfgram will assist as a Technical Delegate for team basketball and Lyon will serve as the Sports Manager for Team Sports.

In addition, Lieutenant Brian Zimmermann from the Racine County Sherriff’s Office will represent Wisconsin’s law enforcement officers during the LETR Final Leg, which will heighten awareness and take the message of Special Olympics to every corner of California prior to the Games.

 

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