Special Olympics Draw 3500 Athletes to Belgium

Why this is here: Nora Collette, age eleven, is the youngest athlete competing amongst approximately 3500 participants in the Special Olympics held in the Malmedy region.

About 3500 athletes compete in the Malmedy region of Belgium during the Special Olympics. Eleven-year-old Nora Collette is the youngest competitor. She participates in 50m and 1500m races, plus softball—a throwing event similar to javelot.

Collette won a gold medal on Thursday, pleasing her mother, Julie Solheid. Solheid notes the positive impact of athletics on her daughter’s well-being and social life. The Malmedy athletics club started a para-sport section in 2021.

The club grew from three para-athletes to eighteen in one year. Roughly 18 of the club’s 30 total members now participate in the Special Olympics. The club continues to develop its offerings for athletes with disabilities.