2026 USA Games: Changing Lives Beyond the Field of Play - SONC

While athletes traveled to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games to compete for medals, many also experienced another kind of victory through Healthy Athletes. Free health screenings gave Team SONC athletes Cameron Edmonds and Joy Coffman life-changing care, proving that the greatest wins aren’t always measured on the podium.

Vision for Victory

After competing in her preliminary heat of the 400-meter dash on June 22, Team SONC athlete Cameron Edmonds headed to Healthy Athletes® with her teammates.

Healthy Athletes is a Special Olympics program that provides free health screenings and education in a welcoming environment, helping people with intellectual disabilities receive quality healthcare while reducing the anxiety that can sometimes accompany medical visits.

Because her vision had seemed a little blurry recently, Cameron decided to visit the Opening Eyes® screening. What began as a routine checkup quickly turned into an unexpected surprise.

Following her screening, Cameron was fitted with a brand-new pair of prescription glasses!

“It was fun having my eyes checked,” said Cameron. “My new glasses are great, especially because they’re my favorite color — purple!”

With a clearer view and a new favorite accessory, Cameron was proud to represent Team SONC with confidence.

Finding Joy in Every Sound

At a Healthy Athletes screening hosted by the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Team SONC bowling athlete Joy Coffman experienced a life-changing moment during a routine hearing check.

During the Healthy Hearing screening, Joy learned she is hard of hearing. Onsite, she was immediately fitted with hearing aids, allowing her to hear more clearly for the first time in a meaningful way.

Since receiving them, coaches and teammates from Team SONC say the change has been remarkable. They describe Joy as more outgoing, talkative, and engaged, with a noticeably brighter presence on and off the lanes!

One coach shared that she seems “like a totally different person,” and is full of energy and confidence.

For Joy, the screening didn’t just identify a need, it opened a new level of connection with her team, her sport, and the world around her.