Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) selected Becca Stelpflug of Menomonee Falls as one of 62 athletes to represent Team Wisconsin at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in Princeton, New Jersey on June 14-21, 2014. Wisconsin athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, bocce, bowling, flag football, gymnastics, powerlifting and volleyball.
Stelpflug has competed in Special Olympics Wisconsin aquatics, basketball, flag football, golf, volleyball, and snowshoeing for the past 13 years. Stelpflug previously attended the 2010 Special Olympics USA Games in Lincoln, Nebraska and the 2011 Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece.
“Special Olympics makes me feel I can do anything I want to!” said Stelpflug. “[Special Olympics has changed my life] because it has improved my social communication skills and granted me an opportunity to train and compete in many sports year-round.”
Stelpflug said this is a chance of a lifetime and she is looking forward to meeting athletes from other states. According to Stelpflug, her mother Rita adopted her from Peru when she was just four-months-old and has been her biggest cheerleader. When she isn’t competing or training, Stelpflug works at Marquette University Dental School as a Sterilization Technician.
Stelpflug will compete in flag football and will be one of 86 delegates representing Team Wisconsin at the 2014 USA Games in New Jersey.
SOWI will host an official training camp for Team Wisconsin athletes on May 17-18, 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The 2014 USA Games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport, and celebrate the transformative power of Special Olympics. A total of 3,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches and delegates, 10,000 volunteers and 70,000 spectators will attend.
