Shawn Lehano of the Big Island participates on Day 2 of the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games. (Photos courtesy of Special Olympics Hawai‘i)
As of Tuesday, June 7, the Special Olympics Hawai‘i team, or Hui O Hawai‘i, had earned seven medals, including three won by a Big Island athlete, at the Special Olympics 2022 USA Games.
Shawn Lehano shows off his medals.
Shawn Lehano claimed a silver medal in deadlift, a bronze in bench press and a bronze in combo 2 in powerlifting on the second day of the national competition. The team of 16 Special Olympics Hawai‘i athletes and five Unified Partners from throughout the state earned a total of one gold, three silver and three bronze medals Tuesday.
The team’s one gold medal thus far was won by Ho‘opi‘ookalani “Ho‘opi‘o” Balaz from O‘ahu in bocce singles.
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The national competition celebrates the Special Olympics movement while promoting the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport and highlighting the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The 16 Hui O Hawai‘i athletes on hail from O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and the Big Island and were selected from among 3,400 participants statewide to compete in the eight-day national competition. They join more than 3,500 Special Olympics athletes from throughout the nation competing in bocce, bowling, powerlifting and swimming, as well as participating in youth leadership programs.
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