Samantha Frederick of Yorktown Heights, New York, began competing in Special Olympics eight years ago and has participated in basketball, bowling, floorball, floor hockey and softball. Special Olympics has changed Samantha’s life, providing her the opportunity to make friends, who have become her second family. In the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, she will represent Special Olympics USA in floorball.
Samantha takes great pride in her accomplishments, including her graduation from high school and earning her driver’s license. She is employed as an infant assistant teacher at Country Childrens Center, a day care center that offers developmentally appropriate programs for infant through school-age children. Outside of work and training for Special Olympics, she spends time with her boyfriend and their families. In preparation for the Special Olympics World Winter Games, she attends weekly practices with her team, readying for the experience of a lifetime.