Four athletes from Northern Kentucky, along with their coach, have been selected to represent Kentucky in the 2026 Special Olympics USA games.
Special Olympics Kentucky Prepares for the 2026 USA Games
The Special Olympics Kentucky team is gearing up for the 2026 USA Games, set to take place from June 20-26, 2026. The event, which will include more than 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches representing all 50 states, will be supported by a dedicated team of 10,000 volunteers.
Among the athletes representing Kentucky will be Chris Revay, a Special Olympics veteran with a 30-year history of competition in various sports. Revay, from Northern Kentucky, has previously participated in the 2006 Special Olympics USA Games and has also been selected for the 2026 games' golf contingent. He has achieved notable success in the past, winning a gold medal in soccer at the 1995 world Games with a team from Northern Kentucky and a silver medal in golf at the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Revay has also won several pentathlon competitions on the track.
Joining Revay will be Carmen Widener, a 19-year-old swimmer from Northern Kentucky, who is participating in the USA Games for the first time. Widener's coach, Debbie Ogden, has been coaching Special Olympics for 19 years and has been working with individuals with intellectual disabilities for nearly 40 years. Ogden, who hails from Fort Wright, will be the Team Kentucky swimming coach. She has coached athletes who have won 15 medals including four golds at the USA Games. Ogden currently works as the Senior Executive Assistant in the Development Department at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati.
In addition to Widener and Revay, Special Olympics Kentucky will send 37 athletes, 8 Unified partners, 18 coaches, 2 caddies, and 1 adult mentor to the 2026 USA Games. Other athletes from Northern Kentucky include Daniel Hewitt, who will compete with the Team Kentucky Unified Basketball team, and Maddie Brinkman, who will swim at the games.
The 2026 USA Games will mark a significant milestone as athletes representing 20 different counties are on the rosters, including the first athletes ever to represent Garrard, Muhlenberg, Spencer, and Washington Counties. The event promises to be a celebration of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and the spirit of competition.
Ogden, who has also coached various other teams such as Ludlow/Bromley swim and dive team, St. Agnes School track and field team, and St. Agnes School fifth grade volleyball team, is looking forward to the games. "I am thrilled to be part of this amazing event," she said. "The Special Olympics provides a platform for athletes with intellectual disabilities to showcase their talents and compete at the highest level. I am proud to be a part of this journey with these exceptional athletes."
The Special Olympics USA Games is an inspiring event that brings together athletes from across the country to compete, celebrate, and share their stories. With the 2026 games fast approaching, anticipation is high, and the Kentucky team is ready to make their mark.
