Tyler Dodson of Desoto, Texas, started competing in Special Olympics in fifth grade in athletics and bowling. In high school, he began participating in kayaking, sailing, stand up paddleboard and swimming. He will represent Special Olympics USA in sailing. In 2019, Tyler competed in sailing at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, where he won silver. In 2018, Tyler was selected to represent Texas in the Special Olympics USA Games, where he competed in stand up paddleboard, winning gold. That same year, his high school kayaking team placed first in their team competition.
Tyler is currently attending community college as a part-time student and works at Pizza Inn, where he delivers pizzas and assists in the kitchen. His hobbies include cheering for the Texas Rangers, horseback riding and caring for his family’s pets. Special Olympics has allowed Tyler to see that he can accomplish any goal he sets his mind to. Putting in the hard work, he can accomplish the task at hand and go even further than he thought possible.