Two Tulsans Will Represent Oklahoma At Special Olympic World Games in 2025

Two athletes in Tulsa will represent Oklahoma at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in March 2025 in Italy. 

It was just another day on the job at Reasor's for Amy Wollmershauser. "It'll be 11 years October 10th of this year," she said. 

But as Amy got the store ready, there was something else on her mind. "I am actually going to Italy for the Special Olympics 2025 World Winter Games."

This would be Amy's fourth time at the international games. She was chosen to represent Special Olympics USA in the snowshoeing competition. "The first time I heard snowshoeing I was like, 'that's going to be a little weird because we don't get snow in Oklahoma,'" Wollmershauser said. 

She first tried the sport in 2003, but she now gets to share it with another local athlete at the games. "Next year, I am doing snowshoeing, representing Oklahoma and the United States, running on top of the snow," said Diane Cunningham. 

Cunningham spends most of her days bathing dogs, but she was also chosen to go to Italy. "You can either run, you can walk, or you can do speedwalking, whatever your body feels like. I do a little bit of both," she said, explaining what snowshoeing is. 

Cunningham has been involved with the Special Olympics for more than 29 years. This would be her first time competing out of the country, and she summed up her feelings in just a few words: "excitement, proud, determination, leadership."

As the two women continued with their regular day-to-day jobs in town, they looked forward to their world travels in 2025. "It's getting to train, meeting new athletes, trying new food, which will be good in Italy because there will be a lot of pasta and a lot of gelatos," said Wollmershauser. 

Amy and Diane are raising money to help offset the costs of getting to Italy. Links to their fundraisers can be found below. 

Amy Wollmershauser: https://www.classy.org/team/601055

Diane Cunningham: https://www.classy.org/team/601056

Another Oklahoman will also be at the games in Italy. University of Oklahoma Police Officer Bobby Bruemmer, will also be there to take part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR). Officer Bruemmer has been involved in the Special Olympics for 14 years. He has a daughter who also competes in the Special Olympics. Officer Bruemmer says representing his state, department, and family at the games is one of the greatest honors he's been given.

A link to help Officer Bruemmer get to the games can be found here: https://www.classy.org/team/601057