Transforming Lives: Celebrating Special Olympics Coaches
Across the globe, over 4.6 million Special Olympics athletes and unified partners worldwide benefit from sports programs shaped by the unwavering dedication of Special Olympics coaches. These coaches are the heartbeat of our movement – they are mentors, motivators and advocates for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PWIDD), helping athletes discover their strength, their voice, and their place in society.
More Than Just a Trainer
To be a Special Olympics coach is to embrace a calling. It means stepping into the role of a guide, a cheerleader, and a champion for inclusion. Coaches nurture not only athletic ability but also confidence, identity, and life skills. They celebrate each athlete’s uniqueness, fostering discipline and self-belief while unlocking potential that reaches far beyond the playing field.
Through their work, coaches bridge the gap between sport and inclusion. They ensure that every athlete feels seen, heard, and respected—creating spaces where differences are embraced and belonging is the norm. Their impact is profound, and their contributions deserve recognition, especially on International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE) Global Coaches Day, a celebration of those who cultivate acceptance and transform lives through sport.
Coach Ethel Tan: A Life With Meaning and Purpose
Coach Ethel Tan, Sports Development Specialist and Head Coach of Bocce for Special Olympics Pilipinas (Philippines) began her journey as a Unified Partner at the grade school level. Today, she plays a dual role – shaping athletes through sport and steering the development of inclusive programs that champion the future of Special Olympics in the Philippines.
Her coaching career is deeply intertwined with Special Olympics Pilipinas athlete Carl Jason Garcia, a six-time Special Olympics Gold Medalist in Bocce. Ethel began coaching Carl when he was just seven years old. Their partnership blossomed on the international stage, from Newcastle, Australia in 2013 to the recent Special Olympics Asia Pacific Bocce and Bowling Tournament held in New Delhi, India in 2024, where Carl took home two gold medals and one silver medal in the men’s category under her guidance.
“Persons with intellectual disabilities mean a lot to me, they are the ones who drive me to do this, helping them makes my life meaningful,” says Ethel.
Coach Ethel’s legacy goes beyond medals. She has empowered countless individuals with intellectual disabilities to grow in confidence, skill, and self-worth. Whether leading school-based training programs or supporting athletes at the World Games, Ethel is a tireless advocate for equality and inclusion. Her work exemplifies how coaching can be a vehicle for transformation – both in sport and in life.
Coach Keiko Inoue: Rekindling Passion Through Purpose
Keiko Inoue’s love for figure skating began in third grade and continued through university. Though she stepped away from the sport at 25, she always knew she’d return. That return came through Special Olympics Nippon (Japan), where she’s now been a coach and volunteer for over 20 years.
Coach Keiko’s first involvement with the movement was at the National Games in Yamagata, Japan, where she started as a sports volunteer.
Coaching Special Olympics athletes reignited her passion and brought a sense of peace and fulfillment. She also rediscovered her love for skating which she admitted that she lost after years of gruelling training as a competitive skater. It was spending time and having fun with the athletes on the rink that made her enjoy the sport again.
Seeing her athletes perform well on a global stage like the World Games, fills her with immense pride. “I enjoy it a lot (coaching with Special Olympics), I’m always busy with work, but Special Olympics relaxes and calms me, that’s what I like about it, it’s healing,” she says, describing how coaching offers her balance amid the hustle and bustle of life.
Coach Keiko believes in the power of connection. She recalls one athlete who rarely smiled – until she started to finally smile at Coach Keiko. Small moments like these affirm the deeply personal connections coaches build with their athletes. Keiko continues to be inspired by her athletes’ achievements on the biggest stages and hopes more people will discover the joy and purpose found by volunteering with Special Olympics.
On ICCE Global Coaches Day, we honor all extraordinary coaches who transform lives and remind us that sport is for everyone!
