Following their gold medal wins at the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in the United Arab Emirates, Special Olympics Ohio Athletes Garrett Ford of Pataskala and Jabari Wilson of Hilliard have both been honored by Ohio legislators.
On May 15, Wilson was recognized for his outstanding performance in Athletics (Track and Field) at both the 2018 USA Games and the World Games by Ohio State Senator Stephanie Kunze at the Ohio Statehouse. He won gold medals in the Pentathlon and the 4×100 Relay at USA Games and earned a gold medal in Pentathlon at the World Games.
Garret Ford was officially recognized by the United States House of Representatives on May 28 when U.S. Representative of the 12th district of Ohio Troy Balderson presented him with a Congressional Record signifying Balderson’s acknowledgement of Ford’s accomplishments in the United States Congressional Journal. Ford won 4 gold medals (bench press, dead lift, squat, and overall) at the World Games.