Loretta Claiborne

Loretta Claiborne is an athlete, advocate, and motivational speaker whose life has contributed to the advancement of inclusion for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. Born with vision impairments and an intellectual disability, Claiborne did not walk or speak until age 4. Despite early recommendations for institutionalization, she became a Special Olympics athlete and has promoted messages of acceptance and inclusion globally.

Over more than five decades of involvement with Special Olympics, Claiborne has completed 30 marathons, including a personal best at the Boston Marathon, and earned 15 medals at World Games. She has competed in nine Special Olympics World Games, met world leaders, and advocated for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities on international stages. In addition to her running achievements, Claiborne holds a fourth-degree black belt in karate, communicates in nine languages including American Sign Language, and has received honorary doctorates from Quinnipiac University, Villanova University, and York College of Pennsylvania.

Claiborne was the first Special Olympics athlete elected to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. She serves as Chief Inspiration Officer and Senior Advisor, Athlete Experience for Special Olympics, representing athletes worldwide and supporting efforts to ensure athlete leadership and experience remain central to the organization's mission. Claiborne began public speaking in the early 1980s, sharing her story and the impact of Special Olympics at venues including Congress and the United Nations. She has appeared on national platforms, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, and introduced President Bill Clinton at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Claiborne has also spoken at the First Global Conference of Faith and Sport at the Vatican.

Claiborne's work has been recognized with several honors in sports and public life. She received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY Awards, becoming the fourth recipient and the first woman to receive the award. She has been inducted into the Women in Sports Hall of Fame and the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, and was named one of USA Today's Women of the Year. Claiborne was featured in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History exhibit "Special Olympics at 50," and her likeness is included in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery historic portrait of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Her life story has been shared through Walt Disney Productions' "The Loretta Claiborne Story," the biography "In Her Stride," and her memoir "LORETTA The Finish Line is Only the Beginning." Through her journey from childhood challenges to becoming a global Special Olympics leader and advocate, Claiborne has contributed to the disability rights movement and promoted inclusion. She has shared her story at community events and international summits, addressing leaders and audiences about inclusion for persons with disabilities.