2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

Special Olympics Athlete Bios 2012 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting

Loretta Claiborne Pennsylvania

Special Olympics athlete Loretta Claiborne, a member of Special Olympics International Board of Directors, is a world-class competitor and one of the most inspirational and remarkable women of our time. Claiborne has competed in more than 26 marathons, twice finishing with the top-100 women runners in the Boston Marathon. She won gold medals in the 1991 and 1999 Special Olympics World Games half-marathon. She communicates in four languages and holds an honorary doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University and Villanova University.

In 1996 she appeared on ESPN’s “ESPY” Awards show, receiving the coveted Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Additionally, Claiborne's life was the basis for a Wonderful World of Disney film called “The Loretta Claiborne Story”.

Claiborne is a passionate advocate for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. She has traveled throughout Africa joining former President Nelson Mandela to bring awareness of the benefits of Special Olympics and to recruit new athletes as a part of Special Olympics’ global growth campaign.

Deon Namiseb Namibia

Deon Namiseb wants to challenge all expectations about people with intellectual disabilities – especially all low expectations. When Deon was born in Namibia in 1978, doctors saw he had multiple disabilities and some paralysis. They had the infant pushed into a corner and left to die. But Deon’s aunt was on the hospital cleaning staff and rescued her young nephew from what could have been fatal neglect. In those years, many other people shared those doctors’ low expectations. As a result, Deon’s childhood was extremely difficult, but then he found Special Olympics.

Since then, Deon has been recognized as a national sports hero across Namibia, where he has contributed immensely to his country by actively advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. He has received the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year award, part of the national Namibian Sports Award. He was captain of the Special Olympics Namibian Soccer Team when it won the Disabled Sports Team of the Year Award.

Dustin Plunkett Southern California

Dustin Plunkett has thrived as both an athlete and a public speaker as a Special Olympics International Global Messenger -- no small task for a young man with a speech impediment and a cleft palate in addition to his intellectual disability.

The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program has a particular place in Dustin's heart -- the program saved his life. Dustin grew up with constant oral health problems. He remembers his gums swelling up at least once a month. Then, during the 2003 Special Olympics Southern California Summer Games, Dustin and his coach visited Special Smiles. He had a dental screening and was informed of some serious problems with his teeth and gums and was referred for a follow-up appointment. He subsequently received a devastating diagnosis: oral cancer. Dustin underwent a difficult surgery to remove a tooth and an inch of gum, but he has since been cancer-free.

Ioana Cioban Romania

Ioana Cioban exemplifies how Special Olympics can have a transformative affect in all aspects of an athlete’s life. Ioana credits Special Olympics with improving her sports and social skills, as well as her health.

In addition to her success at Special Olympics sports, Ioana has excelled as an International Global Messenger and an inspiration to people with intellectual disabilities. Ioana has spoken in front of a wide variety of audiences, including a speech at the Opening Ceremonies of the Friendship Games in 2005 and later that year at the Down Syndrome International Conference. She shared her success story in front of a large group of participants, their families and distinguished guests that included the Consul General of the Netherlands.