Gila Ridge High School sophomore Gabriel Delgado was a keynote speaker at the seventh annual “Breakfast with Champions” hosted by Special Olympics Arizona. Delgado was selected as one of three keynote speakers due to his impact in Special Olympics and the Yuma community. 

“The Special Olympics has shown me that I'm capable of so much more than I ever imagined,” Delgado said. “Special Olympics doesn’t care about rare diseases or medical charts. It cares about creating a world where everyone fits in. My Journey with Special Olympics has been a rollercoaster, but it's also been a journey of discovering who I am and where I fit in.” 

Despite early challenges where experts doubted his ability to read, speak, or socialize, Delgado has overcome all odds and grown into a thriving Boy Scout and Special Olympics athlete. He has been in Special Olympics since he was 6 years old. He has taken part in Unified Swim, Unified Basketball, Unified Track and Field at Gila Ridge, and is a champion in power lifting. His dream is to become a special needs teacher. 

Former Gila Ridge student Alex Rippey also took part in the “Breakfast With Champions” event in the Special Olympics Arizona athlete panel. 

Special Olympics is a sports organization that is creating a new world of inclusion and community, where everyone is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability.