Bailie ladies hook & loop bar grips used by Lee Dockins of Russellville, Kentucky, on the uneven parallel bars at the 2011 Special Oylmpics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Lee Dockins (b. 1987) started gymnastics at age five. She soon began to compete, practicing at least three days each week at her local gym in Russellville, Kentucky. After more than 150 competitions, including at several World Games, she became a coach at her local gym. Today, she works with preschoolers of all abilities, teaching them to build their flexibility and introducing them to difficult equipment, such as the parallel bars.
From its beginnings as Camp Shriver in Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s backyard, to the first international games in 1968, Special Olympics has been about giving people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sport. This participation builds confidence, provides emotional support and offers social opportunities for the athletes and their families. With state chapters and a global presence through its World Games, “Special Olympics is the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities with 5 million athletes in 170 countries worldwide.”
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