Phillip “Phil” Martin of Macon, Georgia, first became involved with Special Olympics in 1979. Since, he has served as a local Program coordinator and area director. In the Special Olympics World Games North Carolina 1999, Phil competed as a Unified partner in sailing. In 2003, he served as the chief safety officer at the sailing venue for the Special Olympics World Games in Ireland. He will represent Special Olympics USA as a Unified partner in sailing. For the past 20 years, he has hosted coaches’ clinics in sailing and still serves as the volunteer program director for Special Olympics Georgia’s sailing program.
A retired therapeutic recreation specialist, Phil spends much of his time on the water. He is credited with starting the first adaptive water ski program in the United States, Adaptive Aquatics, which is still active. Although Phil lives with multiple sclerosis, he does not let that hold him back from competing in the sport he loves and coaching Special Olympics athletes to do the same.