World Games
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 took place March 8-15 2025, where more than 1,500 athletes from 102 countries gathered to compete in eight winter sports and showcased the determination of people with intellectual disabilities and the power of inclusion through sport.
Pennsylvania proudly sent seven athletes and three coaches to compete in the Games! Our athletes earned two GOLD medals, three SILVER and five BRONZE! Learn more about our incredible athletes below and visit the official site of the World Games for more information.
2025 Special Olympics Team USA representatives from Pennsylvania!
MEET THE ATHLETES
JUSTIN GRIMLEY
SNOWSHOEING
🥈 (200m), 4th (100m)
Justin Grimley of Elverson, Pennsylvania, started competing in Special Olympics 28 years ago and has participated in bocce, bowling, short track speed skating and snowshoeing. In the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, he will represent Special Olympics USA in snowshoeing. His second time attending a Special Olympics World Games, Justin competed in snowshoeing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Austria 2017. He also represented Special Olympics New Jersey in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, competing in bocce.
Employed as a technician assistant, Justin works three days a week at Country Companion Animal Hospital. He can be found gardening, riding his Go-Kart or volunteering to shred papers at his local township. To train for upcoming competitions, he swims, runs, bowls and works with a trainer each week. He is proud to represent the United States and looks forward to meeting many new friends.
KAITLIN GROVE
ALPINE SKIING
🥉 (Giant Slalom), 4th (Super G),
DQ (Slalom)
Kaitie Grove of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, started competing in Special Olympics when she was just 10 years old and has trained in more than 10 sports, but her favorites are Alpine skiing, bocce and swimming. She is exceptionally proud of all the Special Olympics medals she’s earned over the years and likes overcoming the challenge of learning and developing new sports skills.
Kaitie attended and graduated from Saint Vincent College’s Bearcat B.E.S.T campus-based high school equivalency program, encompassing academic curriculum, social skill development and relative work experience. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, especially with her two brothers who she credits with encouraging her throughout her athletic and social endeavors.
She is excited to represent her nation in Alpine skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 and visit the country of her great-grandparents’ origin, sampling some authentic Italian cuisine along the way.
TAMSIN HIRCOCK
SNOWBOARDING
🥉 (Giant Slalom), 🥉 (Super G), 5th (Slalom)
Tamsin Hircock of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, has participated in Special Olympics for 12 years, competing in Alpine skiing, basketball, cycling, snowboarding and volleyball. Her first time competing in a Special Olympics World Games, Tamsin will represent Special Olympics USA in snowboarding.
Four years ago, Tamsin learned to snowboard and she has trained hard to excel in competition.
To further her education, Tamsin attended Millersville University, where she joined the Integrated Studies program. Tamsin is employed at Buckman’s Ski & Snowboard Shop as an associate and as a summer camp counselor at her local YMCA.
As a volunteer, she supports Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, the country’s oldest nonprofit of its kind, dedicated to providing a comfortable retirement for horses. A travel enthusiast, Tamsin enjoys visiting her friends in Nepal and India. Her next adventure will take her to Italy.
ALYSA JONES
ALPINE SKIING
🥉 (Giant Slalom), 🥉 (Slalom), 5th (Super G)
Alysa Jones of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, started competing in Special Olympics four years ago, first participating in soccer and swimming. Two years ago, she was introduced to Alpine skiing and will represent Special Olympics USA on the slopes. Special Olympics has changed Alysa’s life in more ways than she could ever imagine.
A student at Northampton Area High School, part of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® program, Alysa is proud to have made her school’s honor role. In her free time, she enjoys baking, cooking and reading. She serves as a volunteer at her local emergency shelter, food pantry and church.
The youngest of her family, she is grateful for their support in all her endeavors. They will be cheering her on as she goes for gold.
JANNA NOVATSKI
ALPINE SKIING
DQ (Giant Slalom), DQ (Super G)
Janna Novatski of South Abington Township, Pennsylvania, is a multi-sport athlete who has participated in Special Olympics for roughly 15 years. She will compete in alpine skiing as a part of Special Olympics USA.
Special Olympics has provided Janna with the opportunity to make new friends, participate in numerous team competitions and experience different sports. She has numerous accomplishments and hobbies, including enjoying word puzzles and being named the co-captain of her high school soccer team.
Janna admires her parents for adopting herself and her brother and for creating a loving family. When not at her job with a special events company, Janna is training for international competition by following the Special Olympics Fit 5 program and skiing as much as possible.
She looks forward to representing her country at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025.
LISA ROBINSON
SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING
🥇 (500m), 🥈 (333m), 🥈 (777m)
Lisa Robinson of West Chester, Pennsylvania, started competing in Special Olympics 30 years ago and has trained in a variety of sports, including athletics, roller skating, soccer, short track speed skating and swimming. Lisa is familiar with the big stage, competing at the 2006, 2010, and 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in soccer and the 2005 and 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in skiing.
Although she describes herself as shy, she has met many friends and has tried new activities through Special Olympics. In addition to her accomplishments in sports, she has been an instructional aid in a classroom at the Child, Career & Developmental Center for almost 20 years. She is known for being a baby whisperer, always able to calm down the fussy babies.
To prepare for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, Lisa will log many hours on the ice, practicing speed skating.
JESSE ROHRER
ALPINE SKIING
🥇 (Super G), 8th (Giant Slalom), 8th (Slalom)
Jesse Rohrer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, started competing in Special Olympics in 1997 and has trained in Alpine skiing, bowling, floor hockey and soccer. He is also a leader outside of competition, serving as a Capital Area Region Athlete Leadership Team member for Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
Jesse credits Special Olympics with allowing him to show his ability to compete and make new friends. Jesse enjoys a variety of hobbies, including video games, jigsaw puzzles and listening to music. He graduated high school in 2008 and currently works as a kitchen steward at his local hospital.
To prepare for the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, Jesse will focus on building his physical fitness, honing his skiing technique and mentally preparing for a competition of this magnitude. This will be Jesse’s first time competing outside of his local or state Program, and he’s excited to learn from his fellow athletes worldwide.
MEET THE COACHES
LIN HUBER
FIGURE SKATING
Lin Huber of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, became a Special Olympics coach more than 40 years ago. The head coach for Special Olympics York County, Lin has also served as Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s figure skating sport director since 1993.
This will be her fifth time attending a Special Olympics World Games, representing Special Olympics USA as a coach in figure skating. An experienced skater herself, Lin won a gold medal at the Philadelphia Area Championships and a three-time gold medalist at the Keystone State Games in Pennsylvania.
Lin is employed as the assistant skating director at York Ice Arena. Off the ice, she volunteers with 4-H as an advisor, creates silk flower arrangements and plays the accordion. As a coach, she appreciates all she is able to do for Special Olympics athletes to achieve success.
LESTER LONER
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Lester Loner of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, started volunteering with Special Olympics more than 40 years ago. In that time, he has served as a coach, a training coordinator, a Global Messenger mentor and a Health Messenger mentor. He has attended eight Special Olympics World Games, coaching athletes in athletics, cycling and cross country skiing.
In the 2006 and 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, Lester coached athletics. His involvement has earned awards including the Special Olympics North America Outstanding Coach, Special Olympics Pennsylvania Coach of the Year and Runner’s World Hero of Running.
Recently retired, Lester is focused on running, cross country skiing and snowboarding. He serves as a board member for the Lycoming County Brotherhood Alliance. His wife, Patricia, is also involved in Special Olympics and continues to support his role as a coach, no matter how far it takes him.
KRISTIE REID
ALPINE SKIING
Kristie Reid of South Park, Pennsylvania, started coaching Special Olympics in 1984. Since then, she has coached athletes in Alpine skiing, athletics, bocce, handball, short track speed skating and soccer. She has also served as a Unified partner in athletics and bowling.
This will be her third time coaching in a Special Olympics World Games, this time in Alpine skiing. In the 2014 and 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, she served as a coach in athletics and in bocce.
Through Special Olympics, Kristie met her husband, who was coaching before she got involved. She was first introduced to Special Olympics by her late father, who competed internationally in soccer. Her late sister was a Special Olympics athlete, who achieved much more than anyone thought possible, despite the challenges she faced. Employed as a storage engineering manager and ski instructor, she is also committed to preparing her athletes for competition.
Learn more about Special Olympics USA by following this link.
MINIMAL WORLD GAMES ATHLETE EXPECTATIONS:
