Ryan Daly’s Journey to the Special Olympics World Winter Games
Ryan Daly has been a Special Olympics Colorado athlete for 12 years, competing in multiple sports, including basketball, volleyball, flag football, soccer, and skiing. However, skiing has always been one of his favorites.
Ryan started skiing 10 years ago. Now, he loves the thrill of going down the hill and just having fun on the slopes in general.
Ryan’s journey to the 2025 World Winter Games began after winning a gold medal at Copper Mountain during State Winter Games in 2024. His mother was the one to break the exciting news to him—he had been selected to represent Colorado and Special Olympics USA in Italy! The moment was unforgettable, filling him with excitement and pride.
To prepare for the World Winter Games, Ryan has been dedicated to training hard. His routine doesn’t only include ski practices. He also stays in shape through spin classes, full-body fitness exercises, water aerobics and movement mentor sessions.
In order to officially become part of the Special Olympics USA Ski Team, Ryan needed to qualify at Team Trials in Salt Lake City. It was there he first met the rest of the Special Olympics USA ski team. Though he was a bit nervous, the experience turned out to be a great one, and he enjoyed getting to know his fellow athletes that he would be traveling with to Italy.
This will be Ryan’s first time visiting Italy. He’s especially excited about experiencing Italian culture, the amazing food (particularly pasta), and, of course, competing in the races. His family—his mom, dad, and sister—will be there to cheer him on, making the experience even more special.
Ryan will be competing in Giant Slalom, possibly Super G, and two Slalom races. Representing both his home state of Colorado and his country is a tremendous honor for him.
As he heads to Italy, Ryan is ready to embrace every moment—the competition, the new friendships, and the incredible adventure of being part of the World Winter Games. “It means a lot to me because not only am I representing my home state, but my home country,” he explained.
Best of luck to Ryan as he takes on the world stage! The Special Olympics World Winter Games will begin on March 8 and close on March 16.
Want to support Ryan on his journey to World Winter Games? Click here to donate to support Ryan as he heads to Italy! Your generosity will help fund equipment, uniforms, meals, transportation, and more.
