Beverly Teen To Compete In Special Olympics National Games

CHICAGO, IL - Michael Rudd, a 17-year-old Special Olympics athlete from Beverly, is one of eight Chicago-area athletes heading to Seattle next week for the Special Olympics National Games. Rudd, who competes in swimming and skiing at Mt. Greenwood Park, will compete in swimming in the games set for July 1-6.

Rudd is also active in boy scouts and is a certified scuba diver.

More than 3,500 Special Olympics athletes, 1,000 coaches, 10,000 family members, 10,000 volunteers and an estimated 50,000 spectators will take part in the competition, according to a news release from Special Olympics Chicago.

"The 2018 Special Olympics National Games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities and promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport... Athletes will compete in 16 Olympic-type individual and team sports, as well as special events."

In addition to Rudd, seven other athletes from Chicago will compete in the National Games next week. They are:

• Allison Berggren, Athletics, Kosciuszko Park
• Aiden Fallon, Powerlifting, Norwood Park
• Shawn Logan, Basketball, Eckhart Park
• Justin Mayer, Basketball, Norwood Park
• Jamie McDowell, Basketball, Gage Park
• Ellen Winkler, Gymnastics, Marquette Park
• Johnathan Wrenn, Athletics, Wells Park

Nikolai Torres, a swimming coach from East Rogers Park, will also be there.

Matt O'Shea, the city of Chicago's 19th Ward alderman and president of the Special Olympics Chicago board of directors, said the dedication, hard-work and determination of all Special Olympic athletes "are an inspiration to all of us.”

Photo: Michael Rudd / Courtesy of Special Olympics Chicago