Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) selected Christine Cherne of Brown Deer 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.
Cherne, who has been involved with SOWI for 23 years, participates in aquatics, basketball, softball, volleyball and snowshoeing. Cherne is no stranger to high-level competition; she has competed in the 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003 Special Olympics World Games. When she’s not training for Special Olympics, Cherne works at the Mark Travel Corporation (Funjet) in Brown Deer.
“When I joined Special Olympics, I had very few friends and no interest or knowledge of any sport,” said Cherne. “Through Special Olympics, I have met so many athletes who have become my good friends and it’s helped me become a better person.”
This will be Cherne’s third trip to the USA Games; she competed at the 2006 USA Games in Ames, Iowa and the 2010 USA Games in Lincoln, Nebraska. She will compete in aquatics 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.org/USAGames.
