Soccer Dreams: Road To The 2026 USA Games

speaker-0: Okay.

speaker-1: Hi and welcome to Amazing Individuals. I'm your host, Lisa Noble. I'm a Special Olympics athlete and athlete leader. Please join me as we highlight inspiring stories of people with intellectual disabilities and those who support them. Our goal is to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and inspire dreams. We'd like to give a huge shout out to our amazing sponsor. Your support helps to share these powerful stories, uplift voices, and remind the world that individuals with intellectual disabilities can achieve anything they set their minds to with the right support. Today, we're absolutely thrilled to welcome Charlie Wilson to our show. He's just not a Special Olympics athlete from Indiana. He's also a member of the Team Indiana soccer team that will be competing in Minnesota at the 20th. 26 USA games in Minnesota Charlie thanks for having us thanks for being here

speaker-0: I am great with little B here. Thank you for having me.

speaker-1: Well, thank you. So, ⁓ can you please tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and how you got started with Special Olympics?

speaker-0: Well, my name is Charlie Wilson. I've been in Special Olympics since I was eight years old. My first sport I ever done was track and field. But other than that, nursing home for activities and all that stuff, I loved it to death. My residents were adorable, caring, and very sweet, especially when I had hard days. They always took care of me. ⁓ Other than that, I live with, you guys probably know, Greg Townsend. He's my caretaker. He helps me out with everything I need help with, like taking me to doctor's appointments and all that stuff and helping me remember a lot of things that I forget. But ⁓ other than that, that's kind of it a little bit. But the thing is, Some other things you want to know about me, used to go went to Seattle in 2018 for swimming for team Indiana. The ⁓ one fun thing about that is that I was the very first member of team Indiana to get the gold medal for the 200 breaststroke. And then the other, why thank you. The other one was

speaker-1: Congratulations.

speaker-0: I'm 100 freestyle that I got a gold medal and in my main event was the IM. The funny story about that was when I went to dive in the water, my goggles came off. I couldn't see any. So I was in eighth place, but for some reason somebody else accidentally got disqualified somehow. But then I got moved up to seventh place and that's all that matters to me. At least I got moved up once. So.

speaker-1: Right, right, and at least you tried your best too, so.

speaker-0: I did. It was a blast. I loved it. It was amazing.

speaker-1: How did you get started with Special Olympics?

speaker-0: ⁓ My mom actually when the Special Olympics that she was in sorry

speaker-1: That's okay.

speaker-0: I've got to... Okay.

speaker-1: So you said your mom got you started in Special Olympics. How did that happen?

speaker-0: Well, what she told me is the Special Olympics she was in when she was younger was a little bit different. It kind of was a little bit like this one, but we didn't have the Ripley Ohio-Hire Dearborn Special Olympics. I don't know what it was called back then. I think it might've been called New Horizons back in the day. But then they changed the name to Ripley Ohio-Hire Dearborn since we have like, three counties with our program. it's like Ripley, Dearborn, and Ohio. So it's like three counties and one. So we're like the biggest delegation. Well, the way that my mom found out about Special Olympics again is when I used to go to East Central High School. That's where ⁓ I met Greg and Greg asked me to do 22 laps around and he got to know me a little bit while we were running. The funny part is I tried to prove that I could do it, but instead I kind of got sick at the end. He was like, he's like, wow, I didn't know you can write that. But then ⁓ other than that, I got checked out to see if I was able to be eligible to play. And that's when I found out my mom, actually my mom found out I had an intellectual disability and That's the only way sometimes people who have intellectual disabilities, the only way to be able to play sports with a disability. But that's how she got me involved. And she went to my first event for track. And other than that, I kept getting my butt kicked until I got older.

speaker-1: I know. But at least you had a good time. So that's good.

speaker-0: I had a, I had a blast my first time. I had a blast. It was, it was amazing.

speaker-1: So I know you're going to Minnesota for soccer. So how long have you been playing soccer?

speaker-0: Um, actually, I actually haven't been playing it that long. Um, it was actually, it was actually my dream when I was in high school to be actually on a soccer team. But the sad thing is I couldn't afford to be on the team because we were having like a lot of problems when I was younger with, um, financial and moving a lot, going to different schools. was kind of hard to actually stay in one spot. Um, but. After I got out of high school, first I started back up in Special Olympics because we kept moving around and we finally got a place to stay. So swimming, I did a lot of other sports, but then when I found out about the soccer trials, I was like, I'm gonna go for it because I played out my heart out. I started burning up, it was so hot outside. I was about to have a heat stroke. When I got home, my whole body was scorching red. It was like on fire to where I was like overheating. It's like, I needed a fan. But yeah, it was so excited. When I found out about me getting to join Team Indiana is when Katie Hilts called Greg and said that she wanted to talk to me about something. And the bad thing is about that I was half asleep. when he came and woke me up. I was like, I literally said, what do you want? He's like, well, somebody's got a very important question for you. was like, I'll get dressed. But ⁓ then that's when I went in there and it was Katie on the Zoom call. She couldn't FaceTime or anything because she was driving. And then she popped the question out of the blue. She asked me how was I doing? ⁓ is everything going okay? And would you like to be a part of team Indiana? And when I heard those words, I almost bawled my eyes out because I was so excited, even though slap happy sleep. But when I found out and heard those words, it woke me right up to where like, I was about to cry, like severely cry. But she said on the other side of the phone that when. She seen me almost cry, she wanted to cry. Because of how excited I was.

speaker-1: Well, that must have I can imagine how exciting that moment must have been for you. So ⁓ who do you think has been your biggest supporter in your ⁓ journey to the ⁓ USA games?

speaker-0: There's a few people that I would greatly appreciate and want to thank. There's our new delegation coordinator, her husband, Greg Townsend that's upstairs, the caretaker. I also been doing swimming on the side and track. So I want to thank coach David and coach Jesse, who's been trying to keep me with my cardio up in the pool. So they're trying to keep me. Trying to keep my stamina, work on my cardio for swimming. I'm using my whole body track. I'm running to use my legs so I can get used to my legs. But I want to thank all of them and everybody in Special Olympics that's been supporting me.

speaker-1: That's terrific. It sounds like you have a good support system.

speaker-0: I do, they've been watching me, so that's the part of wanting to get better at what you're doing.

speaker-1: going. How have you and your teammates supported each other through this journey?

speaker-0: Well, right now we are going to try to meet. Hopefully next month a lot. It's just right now it's been a little bit difficult since they're in a different delegation. So they're in DeKalb. I'm in Ripley, Ohio, Dearborn, and we have two other people that's from different counties, but they're a little bit closer to DeKalb than I am. we work, sorry. We are supposed to have three soccer games, but the sad thing is I'm not gonna be able to make it to those soccer games, which is understandable because it's a three hour and a half away from where I'm at. And it's at a certain time, like I think it's at six that we like do some practicing and then we have like two games back to back and then we won't get back until like maybe one in the morning from there. Cause since it's three hours, three hours and a half away, It'll take us three hours back and we'll be at home by 1 a.m. in the morning. But I won't be able to make it to those three, but I will be making it to the ones that are a little bit closer, just two hours away. I'm excited. can't wait to see him again and see how their practices have been going. I've been trying to keep them updated on mine as well. I've been taking pictures of my watch that I've been doing. So let them know that I've been doing my cardio in the pool all the time. You can come in, Babylion, and say hi. ⁓ no, he just walks away.

speaker-1: Excellent. That's okay. What challenges other than not being able to play those three games, are there any other challenges that you faced during your training and how have you overcome them?

speaker-0: ⁓ it's not really that hard. I understand that I'm not going to be able to make it, which my coach understands too, because it happens. We all have to do our part, but he knows I'm doing some goalie training, which is good. So where I can get myself better at being a goalie, since that's the main part I'm doing, since I'm kind of the main deal of trying to get the ball into the goal. You know what I mean? As best I can. I know I might make a little bit of a mistakes, but all I can do is try.

speaker-1: Yeah, that's all you can ask anybody. So ⁓ what does it mean to you to represent Indiana at the USA games in Minnesota?

speaker-0: It means a lot because I want to show people with intellectual disabilities that they're able to do anything that people with non disabilities can do. It's just like some people in school who want to play sports are not eligible supposedly because nobody believes in them. But when it comes to like Special Olympics for like team Indiana or the USA games, it's the only way to prove people. to people that's non-disability that we can do anything they can do. So I am very grateful to be a part of Team Indiana and to prove everything I can to show those people that we are worthy of being a part of anything like they are.

speaker-1: like that actually, that's what we always tell people, even the ones that are on our team, you know, we always tell people that, it might take you a little bit longer to learn something or you might have to modify something, but you can still do what everybody else can do, so.

speaker-0: Yes, that's my motto because I do have a hard time and I do learn very slowly. When I started soccer goalie training, I still got a little bit forgetting a lot, but they helped me do little by little each time. And it helps me get a lot more better to remembering by little each step that they teach me.

speaker-1: Right, that's a good thing. So is there like an athlete, celebrity or leader that has inspired you the most?

speaker-0: There are a couple of celebrities because I do love music and it means a lot to me and it's a passion which I've been kind of slacking on and need to get back to. But my favorite people that inspired me was there are like a few. There's Luke Bryan, Miley Cyrus. trying to remember a couple more. Dolly Parton is a main one because she had a lot growing on when she was a kid and she toughened up to be the person she is now. And I know there is a celebrity. I seen a movie about something. I don't know who it was, but it was talking about a father that had a disability. to where people think they weren't able to take care of a child. And guess what? He took care of a child. And that inspired me when I watched that. Because when I watched it this morning, it made me cry because I could kind of relate because I got told something a long time ago about that saying that I wouldn't be able to take care of the child because I couldn't take care of myself. But I'm very inspired by that one person who played that part as a dad.

speaker-1: That's good. I always tell people that you prove people wrong and that they have their own biases. But it's your choice if you want to prove them wrong or not. ⁓

speaker-0: It was, yeah. That's the right way to do it. Show them that you got the courage.

speaker-1: Exactly. ⁓ do you have any pregame rituals or things you do to get ready? And what is your favorite song to listen to that gets you pumped up to play?

speaker-0: ⁓ there are some rituals, which I try to do my best that is doing like breathing exercises. So like when I get nervous, there are, ⁓ there are days like when I'm playing a game, like let's for instance, like basketball, ⁓ my heart starts pounding. Like my whole body starts shaking. But what I usually do for that is I just try to think that. There's nobody in front of you. There's nobody going to push you around or anything. Just think that take a deep breath and in my body starts calming down or maybe like count to 10 or think of a song popping in your head to where you can avoid all distractions around you.

speaker-1: That's good. That's ⁓ What are your goal? What are some of your goals or what? Yeah for this year's games?

speaker-0: I did forget to answer that one question in my song, by the way. ⁓ that's okay.

speaker-1: Yeah, if you want to know that's okay if you want to you know

speaker-0: My song, my favorite song by, I'm trying to remember her name, because she was at the games last year. Let me, the Brave song.

speaker-1: ⁓ Sarah Boralich, yes.

speaker-0: Yes, ⁓ that's one of my favorite songs and there is, ⁓ I don't know what the other one is, but that's the one for right now is, let's be brave. It's a really amazing song. It empowers athletes. It makes them focus and think they can do anything by just being themselves.

speaker-1: Yep, I agree. I always like listening to that song when before I tried to listen to it. That's one of the songs I listen to. So what is your goal for this year's games?

speaker-0: Well, my goal for this game, these years games is to try to work my hardest as best I can and also to try to make my team proud. And I don't want to let them down.

speaker-1: Those are good goals and I think, you know, we always tell people every time we compete, like even if it's with our team sports, we always tell them, as long as you do your best and have fun, that's all anybody can ask of you. you know, we always also say that you're our dear winner because you got this far.

speaker-0: That is true.

speaker-1: Yeah, so what things do you like to do outside of Special Olympics?

speaker-0: I'm not gonna lie. I am kind of a game nerd. I play Call of Duty all the time, sometimes, maybe Fortnite. ⁓ I do listen to music. I also sing, I go on TikTok Live. If anybody ever sees me, I try to do a gaming session while I'm singing songs just for fun of it, which I know people don't stay because who cares? We're not all perfect, you know what I mean? But it's... It's just that kind of stuff that makes a lot of difference. It's the singing that keeps you going, the gaming that keeps you focused when you're having a rough day, the... the motivation mostly.

speaker-1: So you're into big games. Do you do any like 2k sports or are you just basically like Call of Duty fan and Fortnite?

speaker-0: I'm not, I like, don't play the sports game. I'd rather just do like, I, those games I really don't get because it's not like anything that's action related. I need to just like focus myself because all you do is you just like, if you're playing basketball, move the basketball person to one spot and then just switch to the other person and then try to make a shot. And if you miss it's like, ⁓ game over. like,

speaker-1: Right.

speaker-0: When you're playing Call of Duty, it's just, you're just having fun, you're hanging out, getting to meet a lot of people because those board games are actually mostly sometimes single players and you don't have any reaction with other people around, so.

speaker-1: Understand that I understand I've never I had to win. I've never played for tonight. I've heard it was a really good game, but ⁓ We you know I mostly play like in Sports games like MLB the show and stuff like that, so I should try it sometime though

speaker-0: ⁓ I do play other games like Resident Evil and something that has like RPG role play and all that.

speaker-1: Well, that's good. ⁓ what does inclusion mean to you?

speaker-0: Inclusion means that is a place where people belong. Inclusion also means that they don't have to feel like they have to give up just because somebody says so and that they don't have to feel like they're not. So they don't have to feel like they're not included because we're all human. We all come together and we all are inclusive with one another. to try our best.

speaker-1: I like that. So that's a really good meaning for that. I inclusion basically, whenever I ask people that it seems like, know, it means something different to everybody, which is not an issue. You know, that's a good thing. So thank you. ⁓ What would you say to your fans that are cheering you on in Minnesota?

speaker-0: I would like to say thank you guys so much for being here and being a part of all of our lives to get to see what we have proved on and what we reached our goals to be. And we love you guys for all the support and it really just means a lot to us. It tells you that you guys care.

speaker-1: Thank you, Charlie, for all that. And thanks so much for talking with me, taking the time to talk with me today. And again, you're absolutely amazing for being able to play soccer on the national level. And I can't wait to meet you in person, because when I go to Minnesota for the due, and hopefully we can talk again on our show to see how you guys did. ⁓ And then we'll celebrate your awesome accomplishments that you did there. ⁓ Before we before I go I wanted to thank again my our amazing sponsor for supporting this podcast Your generosity helps us share these incredible stories like Charlie's and continue to highlight amazing individuals from all around the world We are truly thankful for your belief in us and our mission So and if you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe follow like and share this with all your friends and family. Your support will help us continue breaking down barriers. And if you'd like to be a guest or know someone we should feature, please visit our website and connect with us. Together we are building a more inclusive world, one story at a time. And remember, people with intellectual disabilities can accomplish whatever they want with the right supports. We'll see you next time on Amazing Individuals.