Samie Ostlee

Athlete of the Month

Samie has been a proud Special Olympics Colorado athlete since 2020, when her swim coach, Louise Faulkner, introduced her to the program. Over the past 5 years, she has competed in swimming, basketball, bowling, and flag Football, with swimming being her favorite. She’s been in the water since she was 5 years old and is a strong swimmer who truly loves the sport.

Through Special Olympics, Samie has made great friends, built her self-esteem, and enjoys the excitement of earning medals. “Mostly gold medals,” she said.

One of her favorite memories is being named this month’s Athlete of the Month. “Thank you Katy Mittel for nominating me to be the June Athlete of the month it is an honor to be the June Athlete of the month,” she said. Another exciting moment for Samie was applying for nationals and knowing she might get the chance to represent Colorado next year at the 2026 USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Congratulations on being recognized as the June Athlete of the Month, Samie!

Kristen Kittrell

Coach of the Month

Kristen has been coaching with Special Olympics Colorado’s Young Athletes program for almost 10 years. Her journey with Special Olympics began in 2006 as a day-of volunteer alongside her dad. “Everyone with the Special Olympics was so welcoming and we had a blast volunteering for so many different events,” said Kristen. “Mandi was the volunteer coordinator and she got us hooked.”

Kristen currently coaches basketball and soccer, and previously coached t-ball. “Every practice and event, I get to have a blast with the most special kiddos,” she says. “I have marveled at their abilities to overcome obstacles and felt a lot of joy and pride seeing athletes do things they weren’t sure they could do.”

She treasures the relationships she’s built with athletes, families, staff, and her long-time coaching partner, Kendra. “I love being around the kids, watching them find confidence, build friendships and find their voices,” she shares.

Kristen feels incredibly fortunate to be part of the Special Olympics Colorado community, where every day is filled with laughter, growth, and unforgettable moments.