Elementary Athletes Triumph At 2026 Special Olympics Johnston County Spring Games
SMITHFIELD, N.C. – Athletes from Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) elementary campuses competed in the 2026 Special Olympics Johnston County Spring Games on April 16-17, 2026. Special Olympics Johnston County offers year-round sports training and athletic competition to approximately 650 youth and adults with intellectual disabilities in the county.
Over the course of the two-day event, the athletes showcased incredible athleticism and drive during the games at Smithfield-Selma High, which has hosted the games since 1978 in partnership with the school’s Key Club.
Each year, the athletes are eligible to compete in one track event, choosing from the 10 Meter Assisted Walk, Wheelchair Race, and 25, 50, and 100 Meter Walk and Run, among others. They are also eligible to participate in one field event, selecting from Softball Throw, Tennis Ball Throw, Running Jump, and more.
As teams arrived, they were treated to some game-day hype songs, and once all were present, the athletes were energized with words of encouragement and inspiration from a few speakers. One of them was Brogan DeBruhr, a Special Olympics North Carolina Global Messenger and Johnston County resident. “There is nothing that I look forward to more than speaking to all of you each year about Special Olympics,” DeBruhr said. “Now, go run crazy fast, jump super high, and have an amazing day.”
Then, teams paraded around the track to the cheers of the families and friends gathered in the stands. The athletes and coaches showcased their schools by carrying banners and signs and bringing lots of excitement to the day they had trained for all year.
After the parade, members of local law enforcement carried a symbolic torch accompanied by a few athletes and their coaches. Before the games began, there was just one thing left to be done, and that was to recite the Special Olympics motto: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
As the athletes went to compete, the excitement could be felt from one end of the track to the other. They could not wait to test and highlight the skills they had been working on perfecting for so long. Winners from each event received medals while family, friends, and coaches cheered with pride.
One thing was clear: the athletes were not only focused on themselves but also gave cheers and high-fives to their competitors and teammates, showing the utmost respect and sportsmanship. Some of the athletes were overheard saying, “That was awesome,” and “This is the best”.
Ensuring the athletes create those everlasting memories requires a great deal of organization and teamwork from everyone involved in the games. In addition to the administrators, coaches, and community volunteers, the Unified Pairs Youth Leaders were also part of the event. These students are trained and mentored through the planning and implementation of the event by advisors, Special Olympics staff, and peers. Unified Pairs have been working together to create a smooth, safe, and fun experience for athletes, volunteers, and families.
“There is magic in the community coming together,” said Bethany Jones, Games Manager and Exceptional Children Specialist at Smithfield-Selma High. “We can all share in the joy as Special Olympics athletes remind us that courage, perseverance, and heart are what truly make champions.”
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Never forget how Trump mocks our Special Atheletes.
He is not a role model that I would want my children/grandchildren to look up to.
He has conned so many people and they are in too deep for ever admit they have been deceived.
He was never a good human being. He openly mocked the disabled, our veterans, women, other cultures, other religions even though he couldn’t name a single verse or Book in the Bible.
The disdain he has for people – considering how truly delusional, ignorant and incompetent he is – astounds me. The fact he still has massive support in this county should astound me – but we seem to have our own share of delusional, ignorant and incompetent people….party before county – at the local, state and federal level – every single election. The quality of their candidate/s no longer seems to be a priority or even given a second thought. Something something “I love God and Guns” and wrap that all up in a flag – and smile with the family – the wife they are cheating on – but “hey, look at what those “Others”are doing and how bad they are – don’t look at me”
My, God. Is there any story that TDS sufferers don’t make about Trump? The story is about the students and you have to hijack it. Get a life.
Trump, is the guy who is so small that he disses on special athelets. It’s not TDS; it’s wanting a president with a moral compass who abides by rather than bends our great Constitution.
Moral compass? He’s no different from any other President-except that there’s an unhealthy hatred of him for the simple fact that he is who he is. The man could cure cancer tomorrow and people would still hate him.
Please find where a president like Jimmy Carter or even Dwight Eisenhower or any other president since the 1950s have said anything as despicable as your hero…about children with special needs… or the disabled.
With sources.
While morality is not a checkbox for a president – we have had some doozies for sure – Trump has gone beyond just cheating on his wives (plural), (JFK, Clinton etc.) and lying (Nixon etc.) he is the first convicted felon and civilly convicted sexual abuser. He is not a good role model – president or not. Why can’t you see that?
He is and has cut cancer research – so doubt he will find the cure for cancer. He is so thin-skinned he has to lash out at colleges who hurt his little feelings.
In fact, Trump is a cancer on the body of America.