Golfing for Gold

speaker-0: Welcome to another great episode of Amazing Individuals. This is the show where we shine a spotlight ⁓ on extraordinary talents, and journeys of people with intellectual disabilities. ⁓ On each we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements, ⁓ but also unwavering support of those who champion ⁓ and believe them. As always, a special thank you to our incredible sponsor, whose dedication to inclusion and empowerment matches our own passion for honoring these amazing individuals and the communities that surround them. On today's show, we have the pleasure of speaking with Charlotte Miller, a Special Olympics athlete from Indiana who will be competing at the 2026 USA Games in Minnesota in golf. Hi Charlotte, welcome to our show.

speaker-1: Lisa. Thank you for having me.

speaker-0: ⁓ not a problem. ⁓ Can you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and how you got started in golf?

speaker-1: I've been part of my township. So I'm from Washington Township Special Olympics here in Indiana. And I've been part of the organizations for now, about 15 years, going on 16 years. so like maybe eight years ago or so, I started with doing athlete leadership. And it grew from there of me trying a new sport every year. And one of my new sports was golf and that was seven years ago. No, sorry, eight years ago. And I decided to try it. My first partner was my pastor at my church. Now I'm with the swim coach to our delegation here and we've been partners ever since as a unified pair.

speaker-0: What is your best round that you've had in golf?

speaker-1: Oh, we had a so me and my partner had a 69 this past year for the two of us and then my best one has been in the 70s.

speaker-0: Wow ⁓ wow, that's better than me. I'm almost there. But I, well, I, I've been playing golf luckily since I was three. My grandfather got me involved in it. then, ⁓ but unfortunately our team here doesn't have a golf team, but we're going to next year, which is a good thing. But ⁓ yeah, I've tried to lower my score. It's sometimes it just for some reason it slices, you know, so I had to work on my slice, but yeah. It's a fun game, I really, you know, it gives you great exercise too. you know, so what's your, guess that's what my next question would be. ⁓ What's your, what's your, ⁓ you know, what's your favorite thing about playing golf that you've come away with?

speaker-1: My favorite thing about playing golf, so I never expected to play golf, first of all. I didn't think I was going to get into it or anything and then I got into it and once I did, it's actually very relaxing. Just if I'm having a rough day or so and then just being able to be on the golf course, of course you don't have people talking, playing a lot of music. Okay, I play music, but it's very softly on the course, but that also helps me focus. I do in my other sports too, but it's very relaxing after a while, especially when you're just having a rough day and go hit a golf ball. You might lose it, you might not. It's okay if I lose a golf ball after a rough day.

speaker-0: Right, no, I agree. I agree. think even if you're doing like even on the driving range, you know, if you have a rookie sometimes are what I sometimes have found is like if I like if I get mad at somebody or something, you know I'll pretend like the golf ball is either that person or that person or that thing that I'm you know upset with so, you know

speaker-1: minute I pretend put a name on it that that's that person that I'm frustrated with her I've just had had it I'm like nope and then sometimes I lose the ball because

speaker-0: Right, right. Yeah, it does. It's like a stress reliever kind of thing, you know Yeah, yeah. ⁓ What does it mean to be? ⁓ Part of your delegation for the USA games for Indiana

speaker-1: It's like it is. It's actually amazing because this will be my very, very, very, very first time going to USA games for any sports. I've been to the ⁓ Northern America Unified Bowling is where my first tournament's happened with Special Olympics. But to actually go to be selected to go to USA games, ⁓ the way that I got selected told that I was going to USA Games was at our VIP dinner last year at Summer Games. And there's a room full of people. And I had invited some state representatives to come. And one of them made it. So I actually did not put the two together that I was there for golf and him. And then they announced the soccer team and the golf people. And the first one that they announced for golf was me. was like, wait, what? Really? And the fight pair was right beside me. And that, that was amazing feeling. And then I got to go back and tell my county cause they hadn't heard yet that I was actually selected and being able to tell them they're like, well, well, well, and I'm like, I made it US and it was just mindful. I did not sleep very well that night. My roommate and I, she had to come and get me to let my work, my excitement out. Luckily she's one of my best friends and knew that this was going to happen.

speaker-0: Let me guess that was probably Melanie, right?

speaker-1: No, I'm not. Melanie's not in my county, but I did video chat her that day, that night with her sister behind me. And so I FaceTimed her down while I was at opening ceremonies and she's like, what? I'm like, I made it. And she just blew up because she will be there taking what is called my position.

speaker-0: Mm-hmm.

speaker-1: the photographer for this date, not Melanie. So we actually talked ahead of time about this, about ⁓ where she was like, Hey, can I do the, this is what I'm thinking. And before, while I was coming up for golf to be a, you put in for golf, I'm like, this is why I was thinking she's like, yeah, you go as an athlete first. So it's really fun.

speaker-0: you

speaker-1: to be able to go and then we have three of the three musketeers and Kendra Franklin is part of our three musketeers group. Minnesota will not be the same with the three of us. And it's in a good way.

speaker-0: Well, I understand that. No, get that. Well, hopefully that's one of the venues where Kurt and I are looking forward to hopefully getting out to watch and talk to some of the golfers as well. we didn't make it to golf in Florida, but that's because the venue was so far off campus. But hopefully this time we will. Do you have a coach or a mentor who has helped you along the way with your journey to USA games and golf?

speaker-1: So as I said, my golf partner who is our ⁓ swim coach, he's a gentleman. He's amazing person. He is actually going to also be my caddy at USA games. So when we found out that I was going, he was the first one to be asked if he would be my caddy. And he's like, yes. So he has taught me so much more. ⁓ I love, I will admit that I loved golfing with my pastor and I will love that time that we had because he got us me through COVID. But after COVID, really wasn't working to be like his schedule and my schedule weren't working. So Jason Broderick, who is our swim coach, who I will get to see next week for swimming will actually be joining me and he. He's taught me so much more about it that it gave me the courage to go as the, not this past year, but the year before to be my first time as an individual for our delegation. And then us to just try out and see if I could be a part of USA games. then ever since he's been at pretty much all of the training camps with me too.

speaker-0: That's good. So you mentioned training camps. have you, how has that prepared you and how have you prepared for USA games so far? Trust me, since golf is like such an outdoor warm sport.

speaker-1: I will admit that the winter time has been a struggle for me, but I've talked with our Coach Fair argue as Team Indiana about how this was what I saw him this past weekend at basketball state. And I'm like, yeah, this is my plan. Because our last one that was nice, somewhat nice weather, it was still chilly. still had have a like a light wood jacket on because it had rained and we were went to driving range and he gave me tips of like how to position myself and stuff and so work that we work on it with what we can but the weather has not been very friendly to me or nice so it's harder for me to get out but I plan to get out more as the weather is warming up of going even by myself and also with my unified slash unified partner in CADDI.

speaker-0: I know you're also an athlete leader besides being an athlete. So what does it mean? How do you see yourself ⁓ with the skills that you've learned with your ⁓ athlete leadership? How will you bring that to maybe USA games and your delegation? ⁓

speaker-1: With anything that I do as a leader, as an athlete leader, I always want to make sure people see the best that is me. Yes. If I get upset, I'm human, but I also remember, hey, others are looking at you to make sure you're still appropriate. ⁓ I always make sure that like I'm not cussing, I'm being polite, even if I'm having a bad day. Do I get upset still? Yes. But I also know that as an athlete, whether I'm representing this state of Indiana or even with Washington Township Special Olympics, I'm still representing these two wonderful places. And I want everybody to know that I'm, yes, I could have a bad day on the golf course, the basketball court, whatever sport I'm doing. But will I walk away? Yes. But that just means I need space to process everything that's going on. And I also want to make sure that even our younger generations knows that it's okay to be upset. It's okay to have challenging days. But I'm always doing it with a smile or always... ⁓ making sure I reach my hand out and say good game and everything.

speaker-0: Yeah, I feel the same way. think that, you you're not just a on the court, you're also a leader off the court and your actions kind of can show, can, not show, but can be seen by everybody. And I feel like I represent the best of what I can be so that people, yes, like you said, you get upset, but You everybody has a bad day every once in a while, but you you just know, you know, know yourself that what's the best way to deal with that, but it's in an appropriate way, you know, so that, people can learn from that and say, hey, you know, she struggles with this and this is what her skillset is. So maybe I have, you know, maybe I can do something similar, you know, if I get upset, but that you can also be ⁓ successful still, you know. ⁓ So I think those are good things to have. So what are some of your goals while you're at, or what are some of the things you're looking forward to doing while you're at the USA games?

speaker-1: I am looking forward to having my parents with me for the first time. ⁓ They never got to see me do the bowling because our county doesn't do it right now anymore. But this is the very first time that my mom and my dad will actually be able to come and watch me. They might not get to see me all the time on the course. but they'll be able to go support our other team members and everything. But this is a time that the three of us get to experience something that's such an amazing part of my journey. And truthfully with my mom, my mom reminds me never to let anybody steal my joy. And that even goes for like when I'm doing sports and she's always there to support me. And I'm also looking for, an athlete, getting to experience this because I never imagined myself 15 years ago that I was going to be heading to USA games. It's with a sport that I never started with. Never had interest in it till eight years ago. That just to me right now is still a little mind blowing. But it's something that I look forward to it and I look forward to doing it with my golf partner that he gets to experience this with me too. I know even though along the way, I'm pretty sure one of us too will have our phones turned on to some music because we found out that music helps some.

speaker-0: Yeah, and as long as it's you know I think as long as it's you know turned down and you know it should be fine and whatever Yeah, whatever

speaker-1: It's usually turned down to where you hear it just in the car, not all over. So it's very turned down, but it's where like me and him are talking and like we still hear it. And he, I think at times he can tell like I'm like, as I walk towards the ball, I have a little beat in my head.

speaker-0: I understand that. ⁓ Is there an athlete, celebrity, or leader that has inspired you the most?

speaker-1: Is there an athlete that inspired me?

speaker-0: Or celebrity or somebody,

speaker-1: I'd say an athlete that inspires me. And it might sound weird, but Melanie inspired me, inspires me. ⁓ Also other special Olympic athletes, but something that getting to know her is one of the things that our friendship is so close. We're like sisters and Kendra's part of it too. But like when I went and talked to her about USA games and the part that where there was a PR part where I could go and select it and whatnot. She's gone as an athlete and I've watched her, but I love Special Olympics athletes anyway. But Melanie is one of the ones that inspired me. She's like, go for it. Go with the athlete that you need to be. I'll show Alicia inspires me. And I know they're not like professionals and everything, but they're Two of the people that helped along with all the support that I've gotten in my Special Olympics journey, everybody has a different inspiration they come to me for. So it's not just one, it's everybody that I've come across. There's some type of inspiration. You might not realize it at first, but you leave an imprint on somebody.

speaker-0: Well, and I can see that from just meeting you and Melanie when I went to the conference and in Indianapolis I saw how close you guys were and that you guys were thick as thieves basically is what I call it.

speaker-1: Yes, we are. I will actually be meeting with her tomorrow, but we're going to hang out for a little bit.

speaker-0: That's good. ⁓ outside of Special Olympics, what do you like doing? What are some of your hobbies you like doing?

speaker-1: So there's two things that I really, really enjoy doing. I have learned that I actually love to do patron trees. And one of them is called Miss Amazing, which is for ladies with intellectual disabilities. But another one is a local term, a local product, a patron tree here in Indy. ⁓ There's two, there's actually three to this one system. And right now I am Miss National American Queen for this year. And my platform is Special Olympics in BOLD, which is Benefits of Learning to Dance. And BOLD came along because BOLD is my other passion and interest in hopping. I love to ballroom dance. When I get out on the floor, it's like... It's like when I'm on the golf course, somewhat it's very relaxing. But on the dance floor, it can be just you and a partner or just you. And a lot of times lately, it's just me. I do solos and it's just me. But I also love hanging out with my friends and family and being able to go to church too.

speaker-0: That sounds like fun. know why. I just learned recently about Miss Amazing. One of our, one of the athletes here in Illinois does that. ⁓

speaker-1: You should come join us. There's a mentor division, you're old enough. It does not have an age limit, ma'am.

speaker-0: I'll have to see. ⁓ I'll think about it. How about if I say that? Yeah, I'll think about it. I'll think about it. ⁓ What is maybe one thing that people may not know about you?

speaker-1: like that. ⁓ one table. A lot of people don't know what my job is. So my job is I am a direct support professional, which means that I am a person with developmental disabilities that work with others with disabilities. And I take them into communities. I take them to Special Olympics, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping. those are just some of the things that I do. And when I tell them that I work with people with disabilities, they're like, wait, what?

speaker-0: You Right, right. You're kind of, you know, you're like, ⁓ you're leading the way, of, you know, showing the way, you know, and, you know, so, and that's a good thing. So you're, you know, breaking that glass floor, so to speak, glass ceiling, you know, so to speak. So, ⁓ before we let you go, I let you go, when, how can people support you and other athletes competing in the games?

speaker-1: We have a fundraising page that's going on right now and I can share you the link with you. ⁓ You can head to my link that's for our Polar Plunge season, but those who didn't raise the funds right away got the ⁓ link and you can do it that way towards Team Indiana. And I do know that you can also send to the state office money, you gotta put like if it's for Team Indiana you have to put for Team Indiana or like Team Indiana with my name.

speaker-0: Well, that's good to know. yeah, if you send me your link, I'll make sure to share it with all of our listeners. Well, hey, thank you so much for talking with me today. And good luck at USA Games. And we look forward to seeing you out there on the golf course in June. And for everybody that doesn't know, USA Games is going to be the week of June 19 through the 26th. So in Minnesota, so if you guys don't have any plans or wanting to come out and support your Special Olympics program or even just watch athletes compete, you know, you're more than welcome to come out. So before we end, I want to thank our gracious sponsor again. Your support helps us continue to share these inspiring stories and advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities. ⁓ I look forward to bringing you more great episodes. Remember to follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel. And you can also check out our webpage. And remember, people with intellectual disabilities can accomplish whatever they want with the right supports. We'll see you next time on Amazing Individuals.