LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Special Olympics Kentucky basketball season is in full swing in Jefferson County after being sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic for two consecutive seasons.

What You Need To Know

  • The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled Special Olympics Kentucky’s past two seasons

  • Special Olympics Kentucky provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities according to organizers

  • The Louisville Stampede will compete in the regionals basketball tournament February 19 in Elizabethtown

  • The Louisville Stampede are currently 3 - 0

Basketball is bouncing its way back into competition. Kentucky native Missy Adcock says sports are in her blood.

Adcock told Spectrum News 1, "I mean, I’ve always been a sports person all my life, even growing up. It’s very special to me."

The 54-year-old is proving any athlete can compete. The veteran athlete was born with Seckel Syndrome, a form of dwarfism that’s caused by congenital defect.

She understands her limitations, but that hasn’t stopped her from giving it her all for Special Olympics Kentucky.

“I really don’t think about it as a disability. I’m just out there with other individuals with disabilities and connecting and making good friends,” said Adcock.

Adcock also plays soccer, softball, track and field and tennis. Right now, she’s tearing things up on the basketball court.

“We practice hard each and every week and for our games we get out there and play and just do the best that we can,” said the athlete.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have cancelled their past two seasons, but for this 4-foot-7-inch point guard, that was more fuel for the fire for this year’s competition. 

“Being able to come back and play with the team after being off for almost two years, just being able to get back in the game and have fun,” said Adcock.

Jeff Jenkins is the coach for team Louisville Stampede and the parent of an athlete.

His son, 17-year-old Kendall, doesn’t allow his Down syndrome to stand in his way of competing.

The 50-year-old says the excitement his son exhibits before, during and after competition makes it all worth it.

“Just the fact that he’s able to compete with his peers and there’s no greater thing than to watch him compete, care, smile,” said Coach Jenkins.

The rookie coach says the games provide athletes a level playing field, but any competition is friendly competition. 

And make no mistake, these athletes compete.

“They’re really competitive and each person has a different skill set and the rules are a little bit laxed and so be it, I mean, it needs to be. Everybody works hard and they compete hard,” said Jenkins.

Inside a gym packed full crowd of supporters at Christian Academy of Louisville, athletes of all abilities hit the floor to show off their skills.

“They’re extremely excited and I don’t think any of these guys look at themselves as having a disability, a lot of people do, I sometimes do, but you’ve got to sit back and look at the fact that they are all individuals,” said Jenkins.

It takes a good pair of tennis shoes, a positive attitude and a team to support you regardless of the outcome. That’s what it’s all about for the Louisville Stampede.

“A good friend of mine says love is the movement. This is all about love,” said Jenkins.

“Being able to be on a team sport or sports and having fun no matter what. If you lose, who cares, if you win, that’s awesome,” said Adcock.

Through the power of sports, these friends will stick together well after the buzzer.

“If everybody would just love everybody like these teammates love themselves, this world would be a much nicer place,” said Jenkins.

The Louisville Stampede will compete in the regionals basketball tournament February 19 in Elizabethtown. 

The team is currently 3 - 0.

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