Loretta Claiborne is a professional runner who has competed in six special world games, winning gold in the run, the 13-mile half marathon, and singles and doubles bowling, along with silver in figure skating. She was the first Special Olympics athlete elected to the Special Olympics international Board of Directors. Claiborne competed in 6 Special Olympics World games and won gold medals in 1983,1991,1999,2003, and 2005.Claiborne was born partially blind but she was determined to achieve her goals. She has completed over 25 marathons and has placed in the top 100 women finishers of the Boston Marathon twice. Claiborne is a celebrated athlete who was honored in 1996 with ESPN’s ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Her life is recounted in Walt Disney Productions “The Loretta Claiborne Story” and in the biography “In Her Stride”.
She is also a karate black belt and continues to train in running, figure skating, soccer, skiing, golf, basketball, softball, swimming, tennis, and bowling.
At age 66, Claiborne remains physically active and her focus is more on connecting and inspiring others.
