Freehold Borough Man To Represent NJ In 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

FREEHOLD BOROUGH, NJ — A Freehold Borough man has been selected to represent Team New Jersey at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, the borough recently announced.

During a regular meeting of the Mayor & Borough Council on April 20, Dante Canzona was honored for his achievement, alongside his parents and coach, Samuel Kiningham, who were also in attendance.

Set to take place from June 20-26, the Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Minnesota and unite 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans from all 50 states.

During the games, Canzona will represent New Jersey in Powerlifting, borough officials said.

“Dante is a 2019 graduate of Freehold Borough High School and has been involved in athletics his entire life,” Councilwoman Margaret Rogers said. “Over the years, he has participated in multiple sports but found his true passion in weight lifting.”

For the past two years, Canzona has been competing in powerlifting, a competitive strength sport that consists of three barbell lifts (squat, bench press and deadlift).

In September 2024, he began training with Kiningham, where he quickly stood out for his “strong work ethic, dedication and desire to continuously improve.”

Beyond athletics, borough officials said Canzona has shown leadership and initiative in other areas as well.

He created and hosts his own podcast, “Dante The Sports Guy,” and plays a key role in helping to grow Empower Sports Network, where he contributes to program development and community engagement.

“Dante lives by the belief that people with disabilities can do anything they want to do, and he demonstrates that mindset every day through his actions,” his coach, Kiningham, said. “...We are extremely proud of Dante and all that he represents within our community.”

During the April 20 meeting, Canzona was recognized by the Borough Mayor & Council, who congratulated him on his achievement, adding that his “technical ability, character and sportsmanship will help him triumph at the competition and throughout life.”

“His selection is more than a personal achievement —it is a reflection of the strength of adaptive athletics and the importance of fostering inclusive opportunities where all athletes can thrive,” the borough said in an online post.

“Dante’s dedication and perseverance are an inspiration to our entire community. We wish him the very best as he competes in Minneapolis and continued success in all his future endeavors.”

To see a full recording of the April 20 Borough & Council meeting, you can watch through the link below:

To learn more about Canzona, you can check out his Team NJ biography here.