Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) selected Sara Brandau of La Crosse 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.
Brandau, who has been involved with SOWI for 33 years, participates in powerlifting. Brandau is used to the pressure of high-level competition; she attended the 1999 Special Olympics World Games in Raleigh, North Carolina. When she’s not training for Special Olympics, Brandau is working at Grizzly’s Restaurant & Bar in La Crosse.
“Special Olympics has taught me that winning isn’t everything,” said Brandau. “It’s great, but being able to compete is just as great.”
This will be Brandau’s first trip to the USA Games. She will compete in powerlifting 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.
