Meet Will – Is There Anything He Can’t Do?

Will Smith, 36, originally from Brewster, NY, joined Special Olympics New York as an athlete when he was about 10 years old. He has competed in many of our sports, including track & field, basketball, floorball, and swimming. And he has experienced nearly every aspect of our movement, having graduated from the Athlete Leadership Program, earned certification as a coach and an official, and joined our staff in the Hudson Valley Region in 2019.

Will has earned hundreds of medals on the fields of play. He has also been honored for his leadership time and time again. Will was the 2019 Special Olympics New York Athlete of the Year, and he is currently serving on the board of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games as well as its Athlete Advisory Council.

“My hopes and dreams for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games are to create the most inclusive and participatory event for everyone involved,” Will says.

Most recently, Will’s Unified floorball team, the Northeast Knights, represented Special Olympics USA at the 2025 Special Olympics World Games in Turin, Italy, where they brought home a bronze medal for our country. The experience marked Will’s third appearance at a Special Olympics World Games. He was on the 2005 floor hockey team in Nagano, Japan (gold) and the 2007 softball team in Shanghai, China (bronze).

Through Special Olympics, Will has fostered strong relationships with his teammates, family, coaches, and unified partners as they have strived for success in sports. Over the seasons, they have built mutual trust and reliance, both on and off the court. Competing alongside one another has inspired them to aim for excellence, regardless of the outcomes, and to remain resilient in facing challenges.

One challenge Will is proud of overcoming was the transition from his favorite sport of floor hockey to floorball in 2023. Having played floor hockey for more than 20 years, he was confident his talent would translate easily to floorball. But he quickly discovered that floorball required a unique skill sets in passing, positioning, and shooting. Will credits teamwork for seeing him through. Many of the team members on the Northeast Knights have been friends since their youth. There is nothing, Will says, that they cannot accomplish when they work together.

“As a team, we are dedicated to ensuring every member has the opportunity to participate,” Will explains. “During our practices, we include everyone in drills and scrimmages to guarantee equal playing time in competitions. Recently, a few teammates and I had the chance to lead a floorball clinic, where we showed the game’s fundamentals to prospective athletes. This experience was not only enjoyable but also provided my teammates with valuable leadership opportunities that may not have been possible without the Special Olympics.”

Competition runs deep within the Smith family. Will’s twin sister, Becky, is also a Special Olympics New York athlete who shares Will’s love of sports. A standout moment for them both was attending the 2022 USA Games in Orlando, where Will served as an athlete and coach for Track & Field and Becky competed in Unified Bowling. When asked about their favorite moments as athletes, Becky and Will gave the same answer: attending 2007 Summer World Games together in Shanghai, China.

Whether it’s a teammate, coach, friend or coworker, Will leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets.

“I have truly watched Will grow up from a child who just wanted to play sports to an accomplished athlete who has

participated in world- and state-level competitions,” Coach Joe Bellini said.

“Through hard work and training, Will has maximized his potential better than any athlete I have ever coached. He is at every practice, leads our stretching sessions and is the captain of our teams. He was shy and did not take charge when he started; now he is a leader and the face of our Special Olympics program. He represents Special Olympics New

York in the best possible way and is a role model for our athletes by showing them what is possible if you work hard and try your best. I could go on and on about Will and his accomplishments, but the best thing I can say is, he is one of my best friends.”

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