Summer Burgess of Phoenix, Arizona, began volunteering with Special Olympics in high school. Last year, she started her position as health programs coordinator for Special Olympics Arizona. In the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, she will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in basketball. Through her work with Special Olympics, Summer has learned more about the importance of erasing health disparities for people with intellectual disabilities and providing healthcare professionals with proper training to treat those individuals.
Summer attended Middle Tennessee State University, where she set seven school records in softball. Upon graduation, she ended her softball career as the program’s all-time leader in hits, games played, games started, at bats, singles, walks and assists. Ever dedicated to her athletic endeavors, Summer plays pickleball and trains with her Special Olympics Arizona basketball team regularly. She looks forward to representing her country in the Special Olympics World Games and sharing stories with athletes from across the world.