Sean Lowe
But this past summer, he inspired thousands of athletes when he spoke at the 2015 Special Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Jamaal Charles wasn’t always a two-time All-Pro NFL running back. He was once a kid with a learning disability and little hope for his future, until he was given the opportunity to participate in the Special Olympics.
The Chiefs running back attended the opening ceremony for the 2015 Special Olympics and gave the athletes a touching speech about his own trials and how competing in the games changed his life.
“When I was a boy, I had trouble reading. I found out I had learning disabilities,” Charles said. “People made fun of me. They said I would never go anywhere, but I learned I can fly.”
At 10 years old, Charles competed in track and field at the Special Olympics. He won gold and the rest is history.
Far too often, society overlooks the troublemakers, the kids that struggle to learn in school, the people that look “different”, or the people that need a little extra help.
Luckily, organizations like Special Olympics have been working for decades to let these people show the world (and themselves) exactly what they’re made of.
Jamaal Charles could have easily left this part of himself behind, this past when people made fun of him and said he’d never amount to anything.
But I’m proud of him for going back to the Special Olympics to tell his story and inspire so many people to work hard, compete, and prove to themselves and the world around them just how special they are.
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