- Set. [fires starter pistol]
- The start of a race.
The sound of a crowd.
The win of a medal.
- Announcer: In first place, we have Jyana Noll.
- Jyana Noll: Thank you, Wisconsin!
- There is nothing else like
the Special Olympics Wisconsin State Summer Games.
This event sees nearly 1,500 athletes
compete each year.
Marquis Garner is one of those athletes
who was forever changed by the organization.
How did you get involved with Special Olympics?
- 2005, you know, I was kinda' depressed.
Didn't have much to do.
You know, had trouble fitting in with mainstream society.
So, in high school, I wanted to do Special Olympics,
but because of transportation problems,
I wasn't able to sign up right away.
But when it was available, I signed up.
It's a blessing because I made a lot of new friends.
And so, like, when I compete with my teammates,
that's like my brothers and sisters, so it's nice.
- Very nice.
So what are the sports that you compete in?
- Basketball, track, bowling.
And now this year, I'm just trying a new sport: bocce.
So, I look forward to it 'cuz I'm always trying
to expand my mind and do different things.
- Another focus of the games
is the Healthy Athletes Program.
It offers free health screenings and education for competitors.
Special Olympics Wisconsin board member
and former athlete, Martha Hill, advocates
for athletes' health and well-being at the event.
- It is so important
that athletes stay healthy
and be healthy
and live healthy lifestyles
throughout their whole lives.
- Can you tell us more about what Healthy Athletes is?
- Healthy Athletes' offers free health screenings,
such as opening eyes,
fit feet,
special smiles.
It's amazing.
- What is the impact been that you've seen?
- The impact that I have seen is that a lot of athletes
are so joyful and they love being in Special Olympics.
They enjoy it.
It changes their lives.
It changes their families' lives
and opens their eyes.
And people understand people with intellectual disabilities
and my mission as an athlete leader
is to be a voice for other athletes
and to advocate
on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities.
[cheering]
- A vision shared with many
who participate and volunteer here.
[applause]
- Congratulations. - Thank you.