MEMPHIS, Tenn. — We often highlight athletes across the Mid-South, from young kids to professionals. A group that deserves its own spotlight is the Special Olympic athletes of Greater Memphis.
Whether it's bowling, field sports or weightlifting, the athletes of Special Olympics of Greater Memphis can do it all with a smile.
"They find common ground; there is no black and white with them. Their smiles are contagious. I tell everyone if we could be like them, we would be in a great world," said Lisa Taylor, Executive Director of Special Olympics of Greater Memphis.
Every week, Lisa Taylor and her staff offer multiple events to help the athletes train, but one night of the week seems to be a favorite.
No matter your age or skill level, any Special Olympics athlete can come out to Billy Hardwick's All Star Lanes every Thursday night to bowl some strikes (NAT) and make friends for life.
Bowling night is about having fun with friends, but don't underestimate these athletes—they are the pins' worst nightmare.
"They can do anything they set their minds to; it’s amazing. Some of them are phenomenal bowlers," Taylor said.
One of these phenomenal bowlers, Mikale Thomas, has been involved in Special Olympics since he was three. He’s now one of the liveliest athletes on the team, but that wasn’t always the case. When Mikale was young, doctors said he wouldn’t be able to talk much at all.
"He would barely say anything. Now he is talking all the time, dancing," Taylor said.
"Special Olympics started for my family when Mikale was just three. We were just finding out that he had autism, and we didn’t have any family here, so they became our family," said Mikale’s mother, Shameka Thomas.
That family has helped Mikale grow personally and athletically. He now plays AAU basketball and is about to become a third-degree black belt.
"I don’t feel that he would have made all of those strides had it not been for Special Olympics," Shameka Thomas said.
Special Olympics continues to help many kids like Mikale feel comfortable in a society where they are not always accepted.
Special Olympics of Greater Memphis is locally funded. They receive no state or federal funding. If you want to learn more about how to donate or about any upcoming events, you can visit their website.
Coming up on June 8th they are hosting a Golf Tournament Fundraiser at The Links at Galloway. You can register here. It costs $500 for a four-man team and $150 to sponsor a hole.