Medals, ribbons, memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Those are just a few things that returned home with Team NorCal after their successful week at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games from June 20-26 in Minneapolis.
The USA Games featured more than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing in a variety of sports along with enjoying festivities like the Opening Ceremony, Healthy Athletes and more. Team NorCal was comprised of 65 athletes and Unified partners – along with 12 coaches – who competed in nine sports.
Medals and Memories
Team NorCal earned an impressive eight gold medals, eight silver medals, nine bronze medals and numerous ribbons for 4th place and beyond.
Swimmer Jessa M. from Santa Cruz County received a national spotlight on ESPN after she broke a record for the 50-yard freestyle, ending up with two gold medals and one silver medal for the week. Athlete Faaris A. earned two gold medals in tennis, while the NorCal bocce athletes earned gold for team play. Danielle B. brought home three bronze medals in track and field and the NorCal bowlers compiled three medals.
The Team NorCal roster also included Unified partners in four different sports. Unified Sports brings individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together to compete. Team NorCal Unified soccer earned a bronze medal, Unified flag football earned 4th place, Unified golf finished with bronze and Unified tennis earned a 5th-place ribbon.
Along with competing against other state delegations, Team NorCal had a chance to bond at USA Games by staying in the University of Minnesota dorms, experiencing Healthy Athletes and a Fan Zone, an exclusive showing of Toy Story 5 and other fun activities.
Making an Impact On & Off the Field
In addition to their impressive accomplishments on the field, Northern California athletes also contributed to the USA Games in different leadership roles.
Athlete Leader Tommy H. from Sacramento was a part of the first-ever Special Olympics North America Athlete Media Team, joining two other athletes to cover the USA Games throughout the week. Tommy conducted multiple interviews, wrote stories and published the official Opening Ceremony feature on Special Olympics’ website.
Athlete James C. from San Mateo served as a track & field official for USA Games after completing a rigorous training program to qualify. He was joined by his coach, Pat, also from San Mateo.
And Athlete Leader Kobie R. joined the Team NorCal leadership delegation as a board member with Special Olympics Northern California. Kobie attended multiple events and dedicated his time as a volunteer for cornhole events.
Thank You
Special Olympics NorCal thanks the incredible coaches, Unified partners, families and supporters who made our USA Games journey possible! Thank you to Adams Street for being the Team NorCal Rally Partner and to everyone who donated to Team NorCal.
View photos from USA Games and follow us on social media at @SONorCal and @SpecialOlympicsNCA on Instagram for more coverage.
About Special Olympics Northern California:
Special Olympics Northern California empowers children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports. Through the power of sport, we promote inclusion, acceptance, and the development of life skills, building stronger communities for one athlete at a time.
