Special Olympics World Games Turin 2025 Delegation Announced
A Dream Come True for 23 Athletes, Partners, & Coaches from New York
Albany, NY – Special Olympics New York today announced that 23 athletes, partners, and coaches from New York have been selected as members of Special Olympics USA, a 160-member delegation that will participate in Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy, March 8 – 15, 2025.
“This is a dream come true for our athletes,” said Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “We have some of the best and bravest competitors in the country, so it will come as no surprise that so many of our athletes, partners, and coaches have been selected to represent the United States on the world stage. We know they are going to make us all proud. Let’s go, Special Olympics USA!.”
Representing New York as part of Special Olympics USA are the following:
- Alpine Skiiers Liza Ambrosini of Queensbury, and Paige Ditzel of Fairport
- Figure Skaters Cori Piels of Rochester, Matthew Gabello of Rochester, and Ryan Chin of Wappingers Falls
- The Northeast Knights Unified Floorball Team, from Hudson Valley Region
- Law Enforcement Torch Runners, athlete Jacob Babcock of Rochester, and LT. Shaun Cuddeback of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Dept.
- Coaches Martha Pachuta, Megan Gorski, Nicole Fess, Joe Bellini, Nancy Bellini, Ellen Pikula, and Chris Johnson, and Sport Manager Stacy Eder
Learn more about New York’s representatives here.
As with all Special Olympics New York opportunities, World Games travel and competition will be provided at no cost to those participating. To learn more about how you can support New York’s athletes or get involved in fundraising, please visit: specialolympicsNY.org/2025-world-games/.
Special Olympics USA is comprised of 101 athletes and Unified partners, 32 coaches, and 27 support staff. Athletes from throughout the country and the world will compete in eight sports: Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, DanceSport, Figure Skating, Floorball, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, and Speedskating.
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About Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025
Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will take place from March 8 -16, 2025, gathering more than 1,500 athletes from 103 countries to compete in eight winter sports and showcase the determination of people with intellectual disabilities and the power of inclusion through sport. World Winter Games events will be held in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy.
ESPN television networks and digital platforms will bring extensive coverage to sports fans and supporters of the Special Olympics movement around the world during World Games Turin 2025. As the official global broadcast partner of Special Olympics, ESPN will deliver live and recorded highlights on its family of TV channels, the ESPN+ streaming service, ESPN3, ESPN.com, and the ESPN App. To learn more about the Special Olympics USA delegation, visit www.specialolympicsusa.org.
About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is one of the largest state chapters in the country, serving more than 45,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 300 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
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