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Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics Chief Inspiration Officer; Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Loretta Claiborne

Chief Inspiration Officer

Loretta Claiborne is truly an amazing woman who has not only touched the lives of hundreds of thousands but has changed the lives of all whom she's met. She is a woman of faith who shares her personal story to promote hope and tolerance for people around the world. In 2000, Walt Disney Productions created The Loretta Claiborne Story about her inspiring life.

Claiborne is a world-class runner and gifted motivational speaker who happens to also be a Special Olympics athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability. She is a celebrated game changer, and her accomplishments include:

  • Receiving one honorary doctorate degrees from Quinnipiac University in 1995 and one honorary doctorate degree from Villanova University in 2003, and York College of Pennsylvania, 2019.
  • Completing 26 marathons and finishing twice in the top 100 women in the Boston Marathon.
  • Being awarded the 1996 ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.
  • Acquiring a 4th degree black belt in karate.
  • Being inducted into the Women in Sports Hall of Fame and into the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

She is an accomplished public speaker, with notable engagements including introducing President Clinton at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games and appearing twice on the Oprah Show. She communicates in 4 languages and is fluent in American Sign Language.

LorettaClaiborne.com

Global Leadership Team

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