Special Olympians Compete in North Florida Area Games

The Florida Special Olympics hosted an “Area Games” in Northeast Florida on Saturday. After three months of intensive training, 450 athletes displayed their talents at Atlantic Coast High School.

Athletes as young as eight and as old as eighty competed in Track and field, Bocce, Tennis, Cycling, and Soccer. James Lobinsky, a national gold medalist, competed in the pentathlon, a series of five track and field events.

“It is about trying to get along with all of the people,” Lobinsky said. “Trying to help motivate them to do the best that they possibly can and have fun doing it. If they win, that’s great. If they don’t win first, just try to have a good time.”

Tiffany Dorber competed in tennis, but she’s also a decorated gold and silver medalist in paddleboarding.

“It is a lot of fun,” Dorber said. “I get to meet a lot of new friends, a lot of new teammates and coaches.”

The event was made possible by 80 coaches and 200 volunteers. Ten Florida counties participated, including Duval, Volusia, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Clay, Columbia, Alachua, Marion, and Flagler.

Zoe LoSasso with Special Olympics Florida said that while the athletes are proud of the sports they’ve mastered, the organization also provides essential health services and leadership support for participants.

Ashley Brasskarran, a coach for the Mallison Park Community team in Duval County, said the athletes often have labels attached to them and a stigma that they cannot do much of anything at all. But Brasskarran said these brave athletes have proved those people wrong saying she loves to witness their “amazingness.”

Saturday’s athletes competed for a spot in the regional competition in Daytona Beach in April and the state competition in Orlando in May. The state winners will advance to the 2026 national games in Minnesota.