Catherine Darrow

Athlete of the Month

Catherine Darrow has been competing in Special Olympics Colorado for about 5 years. She initially got involved through a friend and thought Special Olympics Colorado was the perfect opportunity to stay active and work hard. She currently competes in snowboarding and triathlon. While snowboarding is her favorite sport, Catherine explained that triathlon inspires her. Special Olympics overall helped her realize that she can accomplish so much in her life. “It can make a difference in my life,” said Catherine. “And it sure has in a very good way.”

Catherine explained that her first Special Olympics Colorado memory was snowboarding at regionals where she won first place in both of her groups. “That felt so special,” she said. “It’s always so special once you accomplish your big goal at the end.”

Last year, Catherine had the opportunity to attend the 2022 USA Games in Orlando, FL where she competed in the triathlon. She had just begun competing in triathlons and was so proud to be selected to represent Team Colorado. “It is just a huge accomplishment and it shows me that I can do anything I put my mind to,” said Catherine, who came home with two gold medals, one for the 400-meter Open Water Swim and one for the Triathlon Sprint.

She has also competed in the Unified Snowboard race at the X Games where she won silver in 2023 and bronze in 2022. “It was awesome,” Catherine reflected. “ESPN was broadcasting us which means it was going across the world.”

Catherine has seen herself change and grow through Special Olympics Colorado and has accomplished so much. “It means so much to me,” Catherine explained. “Who I am is beautiful and I feel so special.”

We’re excited to recognize Catherine as the July Athlete of the Month! Congratulations, Catherine!

Kaiser Permanente Colorado

Community Partner of the Month

At Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO), we truly value our partnership with Kaiser Permanente! This year, Kaiser Permanente has generously supported SOCO fundraising events like Plane Pull and Hall of Fame, championed our Strong Minds programming, provided mental health materials and resources for athletes, and recently helped introduce Young Athletes to the world of sports at our week-long Summer Camp. Kaiser Permanente continues to help foster inclusion, promote acceptance, and empower individuals with intellectual disabilities to reach their full potential through their generous support. We greatly appreciate their commitment to the Inclusion Revolution and are thrilled to recognize them as our 2023 July Community Partner of the Month.