Global Messengers are Special Olympics athletes who help spread the message and vision of the movement as well as the benefits they have gained by participating in Special Olympics. As leaders and message-bearers of the movement, Global Messengers communicate the powerful declarations of hope, acceptance, dignity and courage of Special Olympics athletes around the world. Only athletes can effectively relate the impact that the movement has had on their lives and the lives of their families. The Sargent Shriver Global Messenger program, as part of Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs), offers public speaking and presentation skills training to athletes interested in representing the movement. Every two years, 12 athletes are selected to train through the Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger program and serve as primary spokespeople on behalf of Special Olympics, appearing in national and international media outlets and delivering addresses before large audiences. The Global Messengers come from around the globe, reflecting the scope and reach of the movement, and have proven to be the movement's most effective spokespersons. Through their appearances in the media and in speeches to civic and business groups, the Global Messengers carry forth the themes that are most important to athletes in Special Olympics Programs around the world. These are the stories of the 2004-2006 Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers.

Below, you will find a biography for each of the 12 global messengers, along with a link to an audio piece. Clicking on an audio link will take you to a separate page, where audio will automatically start playing. Press the backspace key at any time to stop the audio and return to this page.

Brian Ruff's bio
Bryan Ruff has been a Special Olympics athlete since 1991. In 2003, he participated in the Special Olympics World Games in Dublin, Ireland. Recently, Ruff helped establish the adult Special Olympics program in Athens, Ga., which officially began in the fall of 2004. Ruff works at Snelling Hall as a dishwasher for the University of Georgia Dining Services. He is also a spokesperson for several organizations that help people who have intellectual and physical disabilities get jobs. Through Special Olympics and his job Ruff has been able to overcome his disability and accomplish things he never imagined possible.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Brian, created by Brad Horn, Rob Roberts, Rachel Shockley, and Ashlie White.
Emily Matlack's bio
A Special Olympics athlete since 1997, Emily Matlack found friendship and acceptance in Special Olympics. She believes that there are many people with similar disabilities who deserve to grow in the same nurturing environment that Special Olympics has provided for her. Her platform as an International Global Messenger is to educate special education teachers about Special Olympics. Matlack lives with her parents and her older sister, also a Special Olympics athlete, in El Dorado Hills, California. In addition to training and spending time with her family, friends, and boyfriend, she works as a cashier and crew leader at Round Table Pizza.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Emily, created by Nancy Donaldson.
Nino Durler's bio
As a Special Olympics athlete since 1984, Nino Durler is an important part of the rapidly growing program in El Salvador. He serves as a board member for Special Olympics El Salvador. When Durler was eight-years-old, his parents helped establish the first school for the intellectually disabled in San Miguel. Durler attends school in San Salvador and volunteers as a mentor at an orphanage on the weekends. He works as a transmissions technician at Radio Maria. Durler has overcome his disability and takes advantage of any opportunity to help others and give back to the community that has supported him through all his endeavors.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Nino, created by Rachel Hyde.

Martin Sandvik's bio
Martin Sandvik has been playing soccer for most of his life. When he was 19 years old, he started the Lillestrom United soccer team and has served as a team leader since he began the team. Since then, he has gained confidence and happiness. Today he speaks to various groups on the importance of unified teams. Soccer has been an important tool in Martin's happiness. His life story and his ability to overcome challenges are inspiring to many audiences. When Martin is not playing soccer or giving speeches he works in customer service at a home improvement store called Maxbo. He enjoys his job because it enables him to help other people. Martin also spends a great deal of time with his family, friends, and fiance. He credits his job and the important people in his life as contributing factors to his overcoming the tougher times of his past.


Click here to listen to an audio piece about Martin, created by Rachel Shockley, and Ben Russell.

Richard Conley's bio Richard Darrel Conley was born in Wichita, Kansas, USA in 1962. After struggling in regular public schools, he began special education at the age of 13. His life has been better ever since. Richard has four brothers and three sisters, and lives with his mother and sister in Wichita. Richard began participating in Special Olympics in 1976, competing in volleyball, basketball, bowling, track, softball and soccer. Though he is now less active as an athlete he still volunteers at both the local and state levels. Richard is exceptionally passionate about his volunteer work with hospice and at a local nursing home.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Richard, created by Ben Russell, and Brad Horn.



Dina Galal Moussa's Bio
Dina Galal Moussa was born in Egypt during a time when understanding and awareness of intellectually disabled people was virtually non-existent. Dina's parents refused to be satisfied with Egypt's limited educational resources and established the Right to Live Association School for intellectually disabled people. Through the support of her progressive family, Dina became passionately involved in art, music and athletics. She joined the Special Olympics in 1994, proving to Egyptian society that intellectual disabled people are capable of great achievements and deserve just as much respect as other people in society. Because of her eloquence and spirit, Dina was chosen to represent the Special Olympics as a Global Ambassador in 2004.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Dina, created by Lien Nguyen, and Mike Schmidt.
Xu Chuang's bio
Xu Chuang, 17, of Shanghai, China began participating in Special Olympics when he moved to a special school for intellectually disabled students after attending a mainstream school where his classmates and teachers looked down upon him for his inability to keep up academically with the rest of the class. Through participation in Special Olympics, Chuang gained confidence because he had found an area in which he could succeed. Today, he runs every morning and trains for competition in a variety of sports including table tennis, floor hockey, and soccer. He attends Chong Hua Vocational Training School where his teachers and classmates admire him for his talents in athletics, his dedication to improvement and his kind and hilarious personality.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Xu, created by Leah Latella.
Marcela Klicperova's bio
Marcela is a 35 year old fighting wonder of success. She strives every waking moment to better herself, achieve independence and break down barriers. She competes in sports such as swimming, cross sountry skiing, and rowing. Among her many activites are playing the piano, cooking, learing German, French and English. Her ability to speak English along with her bravery gained her the honor of being a Sargeant Striver Global Messenger.

Click here to listen to an audio piece about Marcela, created by Mike Schmidt, and Damien Berahzer.

Yohanna Madole's bio
Yohanna Madole was born in Dodoma, Tanzania in 1982. At a young age his family moved to the smaller town of Iringa. There, he was placed in the local school's first class for disabled children. In 1992 he began participating in Special Olympics, playing football (soccer) and running track. In 2000 his mother died from typhoid and his father was unable to care for him and his siblings. Because of his successes in Special Olympics a decision was made for him to move to Dar es Salaam, the country's capital and the home of Special Olympics Tanzania, where he could live with his uncle. He has been there since early 2003.


Click here to listen to an audio piece about Yohanna, created by Brad Horn.

Hankao Sawayama's bio Hanako Sawayama has been a Special Olympics athlete for seven years. She competed in her first international competition at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games in Dublin, Ireland where she won a gold and two silver medals for bowling. Between competitions, Hanako studies English at Shines, an English school on Orchard Road. Although English is the predominant language in Singapore, Hanako's native language is Japanese, so she has been working to develop her grammar and her vocabulary. She serves as an athlete media spokesperson for Special Olympics Singapore and speaks confidently about her experience to audiences around the world. At the 2005 games in Nagano Japan, she will deliver a speech in both Japanese and English.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Hankao, created by Sara Longenecker.



Jennifer Polk's bio
In 15 years as a Special Olympics athlete, Jennifer Polk has trained and competed in basketball, speed skating, bowling, softball and alpine skiing. At the 2003 World Games in Dublin, she became the first female athlete to coach at an international event. Jennifer is an experienced public speaker. She has been a spokesperson, a emcee of the N.C. state games and a guest correspondent with WRAL-TV during the 1999 World Summer Games in North Carolina. Jennifer promotes family involvement with Special Olympics and encourages older athletes to mentor their younger peers. Jennifer lives in Winston-Salem with her husband and teammate Donald Wardlow.


Click here to listen to an audio piece about Jennifer, created by Hunter McRae.

Tony Hill's bio Tony Hill, 41, of Belleville, IL began participating in Special Olympics in 1974 when he was 11-years-old. His level of participation in Special Olympics has grown today to make him one of the 12 ambassadors representing Special Olympics worldwide. After living at home and in several group homes in the St. Louis area, Tony moved to his own apartment three years ago. Despite the physical challenges that he faces with Cerebral Palsy and intellectual disabilities, Tony leads an independent life full of joy, spirituality and time with friends and family. In the summer Tony trains for the 100-meter wheelchair race. Tony continues to set goals for himself. He plans to buy a house of his own and possibly marry in the future.
Click here to listen to an audio piece about Tony, created by Samkit Shah.