Special Olympics Alaska athlete Sulynnette Ledesma has many a trick up her sleeve. Born in the tropics of Bayamón, Puerto Rico, she now feels at home on the snowy slopes of Anchorage, Alaska. At five years old, her mother and stepfather relocated their family to Alaska, in search of improved health services for her brother, who has autism.
“She wanted us to go somewhere where it’s very comfortable, where we have the supplies and support,” explained Sulynnette. “So, she chose Alaska and went first to talk to the school district and apply for us to go to school. Then, me, my brother and parents went. It was an adventure, and because of that adventure, it changed our lives…When we landed here, my mom wanted us to have our language. So, my mom has a rule, we speak Spanish at home and then English outside.”
Comfortable in their new surroundings, her brother starting training in snowboarding with Special Olympics. As a volunteer, Sulynnette would regularly attend events in support of her brother. And from the sidelines, she cheered as he gained confidence and momentum on the slopes, until it was her turn.
“I started as a volunteer and Unified partner for my brother,” said Sulynnette. “Then, a few years later, they diagnosed me with autism.”
Her many years as a volunteer taught her the basics of snowboarding. When it was time to put that knowledge to the test, she felt free, loving the wind in her face, the rapid acceleration. Off the slopes, she also trains in athletics, figure skating and swimming. At first glance, Sulynnette is not who most people expect her to be. With her trendy sense of style, she is more than her appearance; she is an unstoppable athlete, a former U.S. Army JROTC cadet and an aspiring fashion designer. That said, the best trick up her sleeve is her ability to make the sleeves themselves.
One childhood Christmas, Sulynnette received a doll stencil set. On blank pages, she taught herself to draw clothes, shoes and accessories. Pursuing a career in fashion, she is currently enrolled at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) in the College of Arts and Sciences. With dreams of becoming a designer, a stylist or a fashion journalist, she hones her skills on a blank canvas.
“It brings me joy,” said Sulynnette. “I don’t always know how to express myself; I usually express myself with drawing, especially clothing design. I love putting my feelings into it… There was a class at UAA, called introduction to sewing, where I learned to do the basics. In our final projects, we could make anything, so I made a dress. After that, I started to practice with patterns, and I sometimes create my own patterns.”
Channeling her inner creator, Sulynnette carves her own path through thick layers of fresh, untouched snow. Her run becomes her own, using the wind and speed to her advantage. Charting her course, she will soon reach a destination many Special Olympics athletes dream of – the Special Olympics World Winter Games. In March 2025, Sulynnette will represent Special Olympics USA in Turin, Italy.
And back home in Alaska, her brother, mother and stepfather remind her of the roots that support her. From where they started to grow in Puerto Rican paradise to their anchoring in Alaska, Sulynnette always feels connected to her roots, her heritage. In her style, her craft and her sport, she thrives, waiting to reveal the next trick up her sleeve.