SUCCESS STORY: (Above left) Eric, before participating in The Road to USA Games Challenge; (Above right) Eric, after The Road to USA Games Challenge at the 2022 USA Games in Orlando, FL.

Massachusetts, the birthplace of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, to 2022 USA Games host city, Orlando, Florida. In addition to tracking physical activity, participants were encouraged to share their fruit, vegetable, and water intake to monitor their health behaviors.

The Road to USA Games was a success, as more than 2,000 participants recorded a combined two billion steps. Utilizing proven techniques, such as smart phone technology and elements of social support, Special Olympics Health Messengers and Athlete Leaders led the journey, the entire way through challenge activation, engagement, and health education. Athletes from 48 Special Olympics Programs took part in the monthly health education trainings.

One way Eric participated in the Road to USA Games program was by developing weekly training videos for his teammates and inviting them to join him in a fitness challenge. Eric doubled his weekly step goal and finished with nearly two million steps, while also achieving his personal healthy weight goal. "I'm proud of being a challenge leader and making videos each week to help my team members keep moving and learning ways to stay healthy," said Eric.

Exercise is good for your physical, emotional and mental health. When you exercise with a friend, you also benefit emotionally. In addition to the myriad of health benefits of exercise, these types of fitness challenges can also help to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes about what individuals with intellectual disabilities can

achieve. Overall, fitness challenges offer a fun and inclusive way for people with intellectual disabilities to pursue healthier lifestyles.

Eric is among the more than 4,000 Special Olympics athletes trained as Health Messengers, who are leading the way when it comes to addressing and seeking to eliminate these barriers and challenge stereotypes.

Kayla Cornell of Michigan returned to school to focus on the importance of nutrition. She said, "One of the biggest struggles Special Olympics athletes have, is in the area of nutrition. So I made it my passion and dedication to teach people with intellectual disabilities how to cook healthier foods. I started a cooking class called 'Let's Get Healthy Together' for athletes." This was featured in EP Magazine February 2023 issue (epmagazine.com/archive). Others, like Daniel Fundora of Florida and James Kropp of Colorado, have joined the ranks of certified personal trainers, as they promote inclusive fitness opportunities.

In 2022, over 70,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities participated in Special Olympics fitness programming, in big part thanks to the partnership between Special Olympics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. •

If EP readers would be interested in starting their own workout regimen, a good starting point (the workouts were developed by and for people with intellectual disabilities) can be found at specialolympics.org/fitness-programs-for-every-level