Cameron "Cannonball" Sons discusses Special Olympics & Athlete Leadership University

Cameron Sons

Cameron “Cannonball” Sons, local celebrity and Special Olympics athlete, has been flying high as of late following his basketball team’s fantastic State Championship win last Saturday. However, Special Olympics is about more than winning games and state titles. It is about facilitating an inclusive world, driven by the power of sport to help people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Founded in 1969, Special Olympics Indiana is a nonprofit part of the global Special Olympics movement, using sport, health, education, and leadership programs to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities.

With more than 20,000 athletes and Unified partners, supported by 10,000 coaches and volunteers, they rely entirely on donations. They utilize sport as a catalyst for social change, exposing inequity and highlighting the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities to break down misperceptions and negative attitudes.

Cameron is currently enrolled in Athlete Leadership University, a program offered by Special Olympics that empowers athletes with leadership skills. Through his courses, he is learning to become a strong “Global Messenger.”

“I have been learning how to be a good Global Messenger by learning how to talk in front of a lot of people about Special Olympics,” said Cameron. “I have also been learning about the history of Special Olympics, including how it was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver.”

One of his assignments includes being interviewed by news media about Special Olympics. We were honored when he reached out to the Washington County Times to request an interview and had a pleasure sitting down to discuss his personal experiences, as well as Special Olympics as a whole.

Angela Phipps and Cameron Sons

Cameron has been a dedicated athlete with Washington County Special Olympics since the winter of 2017, marking his ninth year of competition. It all began as a suggestion from Salem High School teacher Angela Phipps, and it has grown into an incredibly large and important part of his life. Special Olympics has given Cameron opportunities in sports, friendships, personal growth, and leadership opportunities, and his journey started when Angela Phipps reached out to him about joining. It was immediately very appealing as he learned about the variety of sports offered through Washington County Special Olympics.

“It was such a good program for people like me,” he recalled, and the chance to compete drew him in right away.

Today, Cameron participates in many events, with basketball and powerlifting standing out as his favorites. Not only is he incredibly focused on his own performance, but he remains invested in his fellow athlete’s performances as well.

“I love to cheer for my teammates and tell them they did a very good job when they win,” he said. “I also like to encourage them when they are unsuccessful. I tell them that they will do better next time.”

For Cameron, the Special Olympics program has taught him very valuable life lessons in addition to boosting his confidence.

“Special Olympics has taught me to work hard and to do my very best at all times,” he explained. “Always have faith in yourself. If things seem very hard to do, I tell myself, ‘I got this.’ Being part of Special Olympics has helped me grow in confidence because you can do it if you have faith in yourself.”

One of Cameron’s favorite memories is his first trip to the state basketball championship in Westfield, Indiana. His team entered undefeated but lost their opening game in overtime. They bounced back to win the second game and finished in third place.

“Another favorite memory would be hitting a new PR of 305lbs in squats at the Summer Games in Powerlifting,” he said. “I was so happy and pumped that the Indiana State football team was there cheering for us. I was so happy when I won four Gold Medals in Powerlifting with my unified partner, Coach Dylan Carpenter, and we placed number one overall.”

When asked what he says to someone considering joining Special Olympics, he did not hesitate to share just how much fun he has and how wonderful of a program it is.

“I like to tell them all about Special Olympics and how they have a voice in what they want to do and can compete in any sport they want to. We also do a lot of other things together, like fundraisers and parties. We all have a lot of fun together playing different sports all year-round.”

Special Olympics does more than give individuals with intellectual disabilities a chance to compete with their peers in sports. It goes above and beyond by teaching the importance of teamwork, while also instilling great leadership skills. Our Washington County Special Olympics program operates like a close-knit family. The athletes cheer for each other’s wins and lift each other up after disappointments. It is a warm, welcoming community built on friendship and teamwork, and it gives every athlete a place to belong.

“If you would like more information, visit the Special Olympics Indiana website, soindiana.org, to register and join the family,” concluded Cameron.

Photos courtesy of Special Olympics Indiana - Washington County.