When Team Kentucky marched into the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, four athletes from northern Kentucky carried not just their team colors, but the pride of their hometowns. Over six days of competition late last month, Maddie Brinkman of Union, Carmen Widener of Burlington, Daniel Hewitt of Erlanger, and Chris Revay of Fort Mitchell delivered performances that were as accomplished as they were admired.
“The swimmers Brinkman and Widener did very well and won a lot of medals,” said Mark Buerger, Team Kentucky’s vice president of communications. “Hewitt was a solid rebounder as a power forward for the basketball team and played really well the whole tournament. Revay had to deal with a lot of rain, and he won silver in golf.”
Revay said it was pretty windy, too. “But I was good with what I did even though it was tough,” he said. “I made a 16-foot putt the first day and I had three pars the last day.”
Meet the local heroes of this year’s Special Olympics USA Games:
Maddie Brinkman: The 25-year-old arrived in Minneapolis already known for medaling in every event she swam at the 2022 USA Games, and she kept that streak alive. She opened Kentucky’s 4×50-yard medley relay with a backstroke leg, helping the team storm to a gold medal in 2:35.25, more than seven seconds ahead of runner-up Indiana. Brinkman nearly took gold in the 100-yard backstroke, leading with five yards to go before being out‑touched by a tenth of a second, earning silver. She followed with a bronze in the 100-yard freestyle, having set a three‑second personal record in prelims, for a total of three medals.
Carmen Widener: Just 19, she made her USA Games debut this year and immediately became a multi‑medalist. She powered through the breaststroke leg of the medley relay, helping secure gold alongside Brinkman. Her 100-yard breaststroke final was a masterclass in composure. Widener touched in 1:41.85 to earn silver, her second medal of the week. That gave locals five swimming medals. Fort Wright’s Debbie Ogden was the Team Kentucky swimming coach.
Daniel Hewitt: The only local on the basketball team based out of Louisville, the 28-year-old brought steady rebounding, some scoring, and leadership. He helped Kentucky open play with a 46–14 win over Montana, scoring early and grabbing key rebounds. Kentucky beat Colorado twice — once in pool play and again in a 26–23 semifinal — to reach the gold medal game. The team earned silver after losing 30–27 to Texas in the final, missing two late three-point attempts to tie it. Hewitt had three rebounds in the contest. It was his first USA Games appearance, but he’s been involved in Special Olympics for 11 years.
Chris Revay: The senior member of the group at age 50, he’s been a Special Olympics athlete for 30 years. He added another medal to a decorated career. Revay opened his 9-hole Individual Stroke Play event with a round of 50, leading his flight before rain wiped out the day’s results. He regrouped and wound up shooting 151 over 27 holes to secure silver as Minneapolis added another chapter to his career. It was his second Special Olympics USA Games appearance. Revay also owns a World Games golf silver.
Special Olympics Kentucky sent 37 athletes, 18 coaches, two caddies and one adult mentor to the sixth USA Games. Kentucky athletes competed in artistic gymnastics, basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, golf, swimming, and track and field.
“The USA Games gives our athletes a unique opportunity to show their abilities on a national stage as well as to make friends from across the country,” said Special Olympics Kentucky CEO Angie Cruse-Tinch.
The total cost of sending Team Kentucky to the 2026 USA Games approached $100,000. For information about how you can help sponsor the team or to donate, contact Cruse-Tinch at atinch@soky.org.
