BUFFALO — In a surprise presentation, Randolph College athlete Kyle Eddy received the news that he has been selected to compete in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
The announcement was made on Dec. 18 by Stacey Hensterman, president and CEO of Special Olympics New York, who was called to the room during a visit to the New Era Cap Company in downtown Buffalo. Ta.
Eddie didn’t know what to think when he was handed a mock airline boarding pass to Italy, along with a giant sign congratulating him on being nominated for the World Games.
“Kyle was chosen to be a snowshoer because he proved he was good at snowshoeing,” she said. “We are so proud of Kyle and all of our athletes for being able to showcase their abilities to the world.”
Hensterman said 42,000 athletes participate in the Special Olympics across the state, but only five athletes on one team have been selected to compete at the world championships in Italy. said.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games includes eight sports disciplines, taking place in Turin, Bardonecchia, Sestriere and Pragelato. Competitions include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, sports dancing, figure skating, floorball, speed skating, short track snowboarding, and snowshoe running.
His mother, Donna Eddy, said her son is the only one on the team who wears snowshoes. The remaining four spots are occupied by two skaters and an alpine skier, but she said she did not know the sport discipline of the fifth athlete.
Eddie said Kyle didn’t know the announcement was coming. She said she thought her son was visiting to play bocce ball with his team and New Era staff.
“New Era Cap Company is a huge sponsor of the Special Olympics,” she said. She said, “To express our gratitude to our players, we invited dozens of people, including Kyle and his teammates, to our headquarters to play bocce with our staff in a conference room that had been converted into a bocce court.” That’s when they decided to publish.”
Eddy said her 25-year-old son, who has an intellectual developmental disability, is a bit shy and doesn’t talk much. She and her husband, Larry, were on their way to Buffalo to try to get Kyle ready for the upcoming announcement. A light conversation about another big life event he had previously experienced.
“We talked to Kyle about his trip to Seattle in 2018, when he and his team represented New York State at the Special Olympics USA Games and won a silver medal in bocce ball,” she said. .
Eddie said Kyle enjoys participating in all sports. He participates in snowshoeing and bocce ball, as well as golf and bowling. Her son said she has been competing in Special Olympics snowshoeing for the past 10 years. His superior skills earned him a gold medal in his division at the state winter games in Syracuse last February.
“By winning the gold medal, Kyle has qualified to compete in the World Winter Games in March 2025,” she said. “An athlete must win a gold medal in their category to qualify for her, and then a random draw will take place.”
People may wonder how Kyle trains for snowshoeing events without snow. Eddy said the area got some snow before last year’s state winter games, so there’s hope. She hasn’t started training yet, but plans to start soon, and she said she doesn’t necessarily need snow to practice.
“If it doesn’t snow, he’ll be practicing on the sand, which is an alternative to snow. He can get in shape at Point Gratiot in Dunkirk or Quaker Beach in Alleghany State Park,” she said. “When there is enough snow, teams will practice at the Resource Center and Audubon Community Nature Center on Dunham Street in Jamestown.”
Although unable to travel with Team USA, Kyle’s parents plan to accompany him to Italy to cheer on Kyle as he competes in the 2025 World Winter Games.
“We’re so excited. We’re beside ourselves and still a little shocked,” Donna Eddy said. “He seems to be more focused on building his endurance and we’re walking more. We’re nervous about him, but we’re going to get him ready.”
For more information about Special Olympics, visit us online at specialolympics.org.