Growing Leaders Beyond the Playing Field: Amanda and Jena’s Adult Athlete Leadership Experience at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

When people think about the Special Olympics USA Games, they often picture incredible athletic performances and unforgettable moments of competition. But behind every event is another opportunity that is just as impactful, the chance for athletes to grow as leaders.

This summer, Special Olympics Colorado Health Messenger Amanda Bammann and Director of Inclusive Health Jena Twete were selected to participate in the Adult Athlete Leadership Experience (AALE) at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The experience brought athlete leaders and mentors from across the country together to learn, collaborate, and discover new ways to strengthen Healthy Athletes programming back home.

For Amanda and Jena, the week became much more than a leadership opportunity, it became a journey of personal growth, confidence, and inspiration.

A Chance to Learn and Give Back

Jena applied for the Adult Athlete Leadership Experience because she wanted to better understand how Healthy Athletes operates at the USA Games level and identify ideas that could strengthen Colorado’s program.

Amanda had a different motivation.

“I thought it was an interesting opportunity,” Amanda shared. “I wanted to help other athletes.”

While Amanda admitted she was nervous before leaving, especially about flying and not knowing exactly what to expect, she was excited to learn how she could make a difference for other athletes through leadership and health education.

Leadership in Action

Throughout the week, Amanda and Jena worked alongside Special Olympics International and North America staff, volunteers, medical professionals, and athlete leaders from across the United States. They helped welcome athletes, supported Healthy Athletes screenings, participated in leadership activities, and built connections with people who shared the same passion for inclusion and health.

One of Amanda’s favorite experiences was volunteering in the Strong Minds discipline.

She discovered practical mental wellness tools that she had never used before, including coloring activities and breathing exercises using a pinwheel. While she was already familiar with balloon breathing and box breathing, she realized there were many more strategies she could share with fellow athletes.

“Now I have more ways to help athletes when they’re feeling nervous or stressed,” Amanda reflected.

For Jena, one of the biggest takeaways came from seeing Healthy Athletes on a national stage.

“I expected the screenings to look similar,” she said, “but I was surprised by how many of the same challenges existed.”

Whether it was recruiting enough volunteer healthcare professionals, managing athlete flow, or coordinating screenings, many of the same obstacles Special Olympics Colorado experiences at state events were also present at the USA Games. Rather than being discouraging, it was reassuring to know that these challenges are shared across programs and that everyone continues working toward the same goal, providing quality healthcare for athletes.

Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone

Leadership often means stepping into unfamiliar situations, and both Amanda and Jena experienced that firsthand.

For Amanda, public speaking and interacting with athletes she didn’t know pushed her outside of her comfort zone. Speaking during the Bank of America leadership event and serving as a greeter at Healthy Athletes challenged her to become more confident communicating with others.

Instead of viewing those moments as obstacles, Amanda now sees them as opportunities for growth.

“I want to get better at public speaking,” she said. “This experience helped me.”

Receiving encouragement and constructive feedback throughout the week gave her confidence that every opportunity to speak and lead helps build new skills.

Jena found herself balancing another type of leadership challenge, advocating not only for herself, but also for Amanda. Together they navigated changing schedules, different communication styles, and new environments while making sure Amanda’s strengths and goals remained at the center of the experience.

The Power of Connection

One of the greatest gifts of the Adult Athlete Leadership Experience was the opportunity to build relationships.

Amanda especially enjoyed meeting another Health Messenger from Special Olympics Michigan, whose encouragement inspired her to volunteer at the Strong Minds screening. She also loved meeting athletes from across the United States and had the chance to communicate in American Sign Language with Deaf athletes.

“It made my day,” Amanda said.

Jena appreciated connecting with Special Olympics International and Special Olympics North America staff in person while also meeting athletes throughout the Healthy Athletes venue and later cheering them on during competition.

These interactions reinforced an important truth: while athletes may come from different states and backgrounds, they all share a commitment to supporting one another.

Bringing Leadership Home to Colorado

The Adult Athlete Leadership Experience wasn’t just about what happened during USA Games, it was about what comes next.

Amanda and Jena returned home with a shared mission: to help more Colorado athletes experience Healthy Athletes.

Too often, the same athletes participate in health screenings while others miss the opportunity to receive free preventative healthcare. Their goal is to develop new outreach strategies that encourage first-time participants to attend Healthy Athletes during future Special Olympics Colorado events, beginning with planning for the 2027 State Summer Games.

By reaching more athletes, they hope to ensure every Special Olympics Colorado athlete has access to quality health screenings that can improve both their overall health and their ability to safely participate in sports.

Why Athlete Leadership Matters

Athlete leadership is about much more than standing in front of a room or giving a speech.

It is about listening, encouraging others, sharing lived experiences, and helping fellow athletes succeed both on and off the playing field.

Amanda summed it up best.

Being an athlete leader means helping someone take a deep breath before competition, offering a hug when they need encouragement, or simply being a friend who listens.

Those moments may seem small, but they can change someone’s entire experience.

Investing in Future Leaders

Programs like the Adult Athlete Leadership Experience demonstrate what is possible when athletes are given opportunities to grow beyond competition.

Through leadership development, mentorship, and real-world experiences, athletes gain confidence, strengthen their voices, and return home ready to make an even greater impact in their local communities.

As Special Olympics Colorado continues expanding Athlete Leadership and Healthy Athletes programming, experiences like this remind us that leadership is built one conversation, one connection, and one act of encouragement at a time.

Because when athletes become leaders, entire communities become stronger.