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Mickie McManamon, Team USA Assistant Coach
Home: Brandenburg
Employer: Meade County Board of Education
Years in Special Olympics: 40-plus
Sports Coached: Basketball, Bowling, Softball, Swimming, Track and Field, Volleyball
Hobbies: Cooking, Crafts and Working around the house
Notes: Mickie has been involved in Special Olympics since the very beginning, having served as a counselor at summer camps held for people with intellectual disabilities by Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver prior to the movement’s beginning. Mickie attended the first International Special Olympics Games in Chicago in 1968 and has never left the program. She has been at coach at seven prior World Summer Games — 1983 in Baton Rouge, La., 1987 in South Bend, Ind., 1991 in Minneapolis, 1995 in New Haven, Conn., 1999 in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C., and 2003 in Dublin, Ireland. She also served as an assistant coach for Team Kentucky at the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games in Ames, Iowa, where she served as an Administrative Coach. Prior to her retirement, Mickie served as the Special Olympics Athletics Director for Meade County High School in Brandenburg — the only paid Special Olympics administrative position at any school system in the state.
What accomplishments make you most proud of yourself?: I think my work with Special Olympics has to be the most rewarding work I do. I am very proud of the Meade County Varsity Special Olympics program. Athletes participating in MCHS Special Olympics are viewed as athletes — the same as football, baseball or basketball and are awarded letter jackets. That simple thing has impacted our special needs population like no other single event. It improved grades, attendance and school involvement.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: I started in 1966 working in Mrs. Shriver’s back yard — the birthplace of Special Olympics — at Camp Shriver. To know that first volunteer position as a 16-year-old grew to a worldwide movement that recognizes and applauds the capabilities instead of the disability is very humbling.
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Matt Minning
Home: Taylor Mill
Birthday: 07/12/86
School: Scott High School
Employer: Bob Evans Restaurant
Years in Special Olympics: 6
Sports: Aquatics, Basketball, Softball, Track and Field
Hobbies: NASCAR, basketball, baseball, boating and football
Notes: Matt won the first medal awarded at the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games in July 2006 in Ames, Iowa. He won his division of the 10,000-meter run and his medal was presented by Special Olympics, Inc. Chair Tim Shriver. Matt won bronze medals at the National Games in both the 1,500-meter run and the 4x100-meter relay. He was named the Area 7 (Northern Kentucky) Special Olympics Athlete of the Year in 2005 and was a Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year that same year.
What accomplishments make you most proud of yourself?: Competing at a high level and doing my best.
How has Special Olympics changed your life?: I have made many new friends.
What does attending World Games mean to you?: It is a great opportunity to show the world how I can run. It will be great to experience a different culture.
