Patrick Fry, a senior business administration major, brought home two swimming medals from the Special Olympics USA Games, held at the University of Minnesota in late June.

Fry won a silver medal in the 50-yard backstroke and a bronze in the 100-yard freestyle competition. He also finished fourth in the 50-yard butterfly.

He recalls that “the medal races were very, very close” but admits that his performances in the pool are not his most vivid memories of the games. “I was blown away by the sportsmanship there,” he says. “All the athletes and coaches showed mutual respect for one another. That was incredible, one of the greatest moments of sportsmanship I have ever seen.”

Another memorable moment for Fry came when he met Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, swimming broadcaster, and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Fry’s coach made the introduction, and the two swimmers posed for photos together.

The Special Olympics team from Pennsylvania included only four swimmers. According to Fry, “You have to win a gold medal at a state competition to qualify for the USA games.” With a state-level gold already in hand, he jumped at the chance to represent Pennsylvania in Minneapolis.

“I’ve been involved in swimming since I was very little. I love swimming and being in the pool. Through the years, I realized that swimming is not just something to do competitively. It’s a way of life, too, and it’s great exercise.”

Fry devoted many hours to preparing for the USA games. In the fall, he practiced once a week and increased his pace to twice a week at the start of swimming season.

Approximately 4,000 athletes participated in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, including 91 from Pennsylvania.

The mission of Special Olympics is “to harness the power of unification through sport” and “to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity, ensuring that the 6.5 million people with ID in the United States and the 200 million globally are no longer subjected to injustice, exclusion, and discrimination.”