PRESENTED BY
LORETTA CLAIBORNE THE LEGACY BY MARLENA SCHUGT | BLOOM PROGRAM MANAGER
Many people are familiar with the story of Loretta Claiborne as an athlete superstar, but if you ask Loretta what it’s like being such an icon, she’ll insist she’s “just a Yorker.” Despite Loretta’s incredible accomplishments, including the completion of 26 marathons, winning dozens of Special Olympics medals, holding the current record for women in her age group for the 5000-meter run, and being presented an ESPY Award by Denzel Washington, she remains immensely humble. These accomplishments are even more incredible as Loretta was unable to walk or talk until the age of 4. Loretta credits her school counselor for first suggesting she participate in the Special Olympics, which further ignited her passion for sports. While she has competed in running, bowling, figure skating, and tennis Olympic events, she also trains in soccer, skiing, golf, basketball, and soccer, just to name a few. Sports have always been important to Loretta, as she sees them as a vehicle to change the world. “There are three things that bring people together: food, music, and sport.”
18 • YoCo Connect & Downtown York • Loretta Claiborne – The Legacy