Sanibel athlete to compete at Special Olympics USA
An islander is headed to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games to represent Team Florida.
A member of the local Special Olympics Florida and a Team Florida Pickleball player, Sanibel resident Whitney Spielman, 24, will compete in the national event on June 20-26 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
She and partner Adam Johnson, of Cape Coral, will battle for a medal in the doubles division.
“I’m excited to go because I get to travel without mom for the first time,” Spielman said.
Mother Michele Spielman explained that it will really be a team experience for the eight-member Team Florida Pickleball group, being guided by head coach Theresa Capozzoli and assistant coach Joe Capozzoli.
She noted that some of the players have never flown on a plane.
“My partner has not,” Spielman said.
“I’m excited to go with Adam for the first time,” she added, explaining that she is planning to bring snacks and such. “Since he’s never flown, I want to make sure if he needs anything, I have it.”
Michele Spielman reported that they will travel as a team and stay together in the dorms.
“I think it’s going to a very good experience for these young adults,” she said.
Michele Spielman and her husband, Rick, relocated their family from Minnesota to Sanibel in 2022 — right before Hurricane Ian — as her sister in an islander. They lived in Minnesota for almost 18 years and before that Davie, Florida. Spielman, who has cerebral palsy, was adopted from the state as a baby.
“We adopted six children, but Whitney is our youngest,” she said.
In Minnesota, Spielman participated in adaptive sports.
“She did downhill skiing, bowling, floor hockey, softball,” Michele Spielman said. “But nothing like she loves pickleball.”
“I love it,” Spielman agreed, adding that she enjoys playing with everyone, especially her mom.
Asked what is fun about the game, she explained that she gets to trade up in paddles as she gets better.
“I love my new paddle,” Spielman said.
Michele Spielman noted that her daughter’s serve is one of her strong suits.
“She doesn’t even get it,” Spielman added of her mom missing it.
As for the hardest part, it was getting comfortable with the atmosphere — and Florida climate.
“The noise and the heat was hard at first,” she said.
Michele Spielman explained that before Ian, the family was taking part in golf. After the storm, activities on the island were pretty limited in terms of what was safe and not demolished. The Sundial Beach Resort & Spa got four of its court open, so they started playing and got into the program.
“We kind of fell into pickleball,” she said.
Now, her daughter trains at the resort, taking regular lessons with its pro.
Michele Spielman thanked the island for opening its arms to Spielman learning how to play pickleball.
“The Sanibel community was really welcoming and wonderful to help grow her game,” she said.
Michele Spielman noted that her daughter works at Jerry’s Foods for four to five days a week.
“They’ve been very supportive of her, too,” she said of schedule changes needed for practice and such.
As far as the local Special Olympics Florida, they learned about it through word of mouth and figured they would give it a try. Spielman started in singles, but it was not the best match for her skill set.
“We knew she wasn’t a single players, but there weren’t a lot of pickleball players,” she said.
Fast forward to more players joining the sport and Spielman and her partner won the gold in 2024. In November, she and her partner took the gold at the State Fall Classic for Special Olympics Florida.
“Doubles was definitely much easier for her and her game,” Michele Spielman said.
Asked what she likes about the Special Olympics, Spielman pointed to those involved with it.
“Being able to play with them,” she said of her teammates.
In heading back to Minnesota, Spielman will have family and friends to root her on.
“It’s kind of a nice homecoming in so many ways,” Michele Spielman said.
She added that she and her husband are very proud of her.
“Just her love of the game and how passionate she is about playing and doing well, and getting other people excited about the game, too,” Michele Spielman said.
She noted that as an average player, she gets nervous joining in on open play games.
“I’m inspired by the Special Olympic athletes stepping on the court and saying, ‘I can do this,'” Michele Spielman said. “It warms my heart, and it warms my heart about the community here on Sanibel that has welcomed her and helped her along the way.”