Patricia “Tricia” Stapleton of Newington, Connecticut, has been involved with Special Olympics for 38 years, participating in Unified basketball, softball and volleyball and coaching basketball, cycling and floor hockey. She will represent Special Olympics USA as an assistant coach in cycling. Tricia competed in Unified basketball at the 2006 and 2010 Special Olympics USA Games. She attended the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games as an alternate Unified partner in volleyball.
She is employed as an administrative assistant at Connecticut Children’s, Connecticut’s only health system dedicated to children, where she also volunteers. An avid gym-goer, Tricia won a weight loss competition by working out at Orangetheory Fitness. She enjoys walking and helping her neighbors with snowplowing and yard work.
Suffering the unexpected loss of her brother and supporting her sister, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, Tricia values the support of her family, friends, and her Special Olympics community. That support system will be cheering her on as she competes in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023.