Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) selected Chad Johnson of Viroqua 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.
Since he began participating in Special Olympics, Johnson has competed in athletics, basketball, and volleyball. He played volleyball at the 1999 Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina and the 1995 Special Olympics World Games in Connecticut. He has attended the 2013 USA Volleyball Open National Championships with The Bad Pack, a Badger Region Unified Special Olympics team, and in 2013 they earned their third consecutive national title.
“Special Olympics keeps me skinny and slim and has taken me to seven different states!” he said.
When he’s not competing or training, Johnson works at Village Market. Johnson will compete in volleyball 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.
Sports competition will be held at venues throughout Mercer County, New Jersey, including Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Mercer County Park and several area private schools. There will be ample opportunities for supporters across the state to show their spirit and join the team through volunteerism, donations and attendance. For more information or to learn more about how you can support a local athlete, visit www.SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.orgUSAGames.
