Loretta Claiborne
Loretta Claiborne is a prominent athlete, advocate, and motivational speaker known for her significant contributions to the Special Olympics and her work in promoting inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Born on August 14, 1953, in York, Pennsylvania, Claiborne faced numerous challenges from a young age, including physical and mental disabilities, poverty, and bullying. Despite these obstacles, she excelled as a runner, a passion that was nurtured after being introduced to the Special Olympics in the early 1970s.
Claiborne’s journey transformed her from an athlete into a powerful advocate for people with disabilities. She began speaking publicly in the early 1980s, where she shared her story and the impact of the Special Olympics, eventually addressing prominent platforms such as Congress and the United Nations. Over her remarkable career, Claiborne has competed in six Special Olympics World Games, completed twenty-six marathons, and earned a black belt in karate. She is recognized not only for her athletic achievements but also for her role in advancing awareness and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Her influence has garnered numerous accolades, including the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage and recognition as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year in 2023. Claiborne continues to inspire others through her advocacy and motivational speaking, encouraging individuals of all abilities to pursue their goals.
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Loretta Claiborne
Special Olympics athlete, spokesperson, advocate, motivational speaker
- Born: August 14, 1953
- Place of Birth: York, Pennsylvania
Education: William Penn High School
Significance: Loretta Claiborne is a Special Olympics athlete and spokesperson who has spent her life advocating for those with physical and mental disabilities since first getting involved with the Special Olympics organization in the early 1970s.
Background
Loretta Claiborne was born on August 14, 1953, in York, Pennsylvania. She grew up poor in a crowded house in York's Codorus housing projects. She was born with both physical and mental disabilities, and she was unable to speak or walk until she was four years old. She was also born partially blind.
The combination of disabilities led physicians and social workers to recommend that her mother have her institutionalized. Her mother refused, instead enrolling Claiborne in the York County public school system, where she was in special education classes. Claiborne's mother was a tough, no-nonsense woman and was often toughest on her special needs daughter as a way to make her stronger. Although Claiborne had a difficult time speaking, her mother would make her ask neighbors for things or speak to people, so Claiborne would become a better speaker and less shy.
Claiborne grew up in a less tolerant time. She was not only mocked and bullied for being poor and African American, she was also ridiculed for her mental disabilities and other challenges. Because of the bullying, Claiborne would often run away to escape the taunts. From this, she realized she enjoyed running and was a skilled runner. She wanted to be an athlete, but because she was in special education classes she was not allowed to participate in high school sports. This angered her and caused her to act out unfavorably and get into trouble at school. Despite this, and even though school work was difficult for Claiborne, she pushed through and was able to earn her diploma from William Penn High School in York.
Life's Work
Despite not being allowed to formally compete in high school, Claiborne still fostered a love of running. A social worker named Janet McFarland recognized Claiborne's talents and introduced her to the Special Olympics in 1970. Becoming an athlete and competing in the Special Olympics allowed Claiborne to see that she did have talents, and she credits the organization for opening many doors for her. In 1972, Claiborne met Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, who she says is one of her biggest inspirations. Claiborne credits Kennedy Shriver for teaching her that she can do anything she puts her mind to.
A pivotal moment for Claiborne came in the early 1980s, when she began to transition from athlete to advocate. In 1981, after competing in a race near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, officials from the Special Olympics asked Claiborne to speak on behalf of the group at a fund-raising event. A company was holding a contest and would be awarding a donation to the winning charity. Although Claiborne initially said she would not speak at the event, after some convincing she reluctantly agreed to speak to the panel. She went without any prepared remarks, instead giving an impromptu speech about the impact Special Olympics had on her life and what the organization meant to her. She won the contest and the donation for the Special Olympics, but more than that, she realized that in addition to her gift of running, she was also a gifted public speaker.
Claiborne began doing various public speaking engagements, in which she advocated not only for the Special Olympics but also for inclusion for people with mental and physical disabilities, all while keeping up with her athletic endeavors. She has spoken in front of Congress and the United Nations, and has appeared on talk shows. She has shared her story at small events held at her hometown YMCA and at large global summits where she has spoken to international leaders about inclusion for persons with disabilities. Claiborne has competed in six Special Olympics World Games and has completed twenty-six marathons, earning her personal best time of three hours and three minutes at the Boston Marathon in 1982. She is also a fourth-degree black belt in karate. Claiborne is fluent in American Sign Language and can also hold conversations in Spanish and Russian. In 1996, she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at ESPN's ESPY Awards. In 2000 Walt Disney Productions made a movie based on her life titled The Loretta Claiborne Story.
Impact
Claiborne is a gifted athlete who has been an influence not only in the sports and Special Olympics communities but also in the broader community of people with physical and intellectual disabilities. She is considered to be one of the first persons with an intellectual disability to address the United Nations, where she spoke to world leaders about the importance of inclusion for those with disabilities. Claiborne is a motivational speaker and encourages people of all abilities to reach their goals. In 2023, Claiborne was named one of USA Today's Women of the Year. In 2024, she was honored by Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania as part pf his Black History Month event.
Personal Life
Claiborne was the middle of seven children born to Rita Claiborne, who was a single mother. She has been the recipient of two honorary doctorate degrees, one from Quinnipiac University and the other from Villanova University. Claiborne has dined at the White House on five separate occasions at the invitation of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Bibliography
Bodani, Frank. "Loretta Claiborne: At 60, York's World-Renowned Special Olympics Athlete Starts New Chapter." York Daily Record, 4 Oct. 2013, www.ydr.com/story/archives/2013/10/04/loretta-claiborne-at-60-yorks-world-renowned-special/74452766/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
Claiborne, Loretta. "Aim High and Do Your Best." Special Olympics.org, www.specialolympics.org/Regions/north-america/News-and-Stories/Stories/Loretta-Claiborne--Aim-High-and-Do-Your-Best.aspx. Accessed 213 Oct. 2024.
Claiborne, Loretta. "Hope for the Future through Sports." Aetna, www.aetnaafricanamericancalendar.com/2015/expert.php#bio. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
"Honoring the Career of Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics Athlete." WWE, community.wwe.com/diversity/news/honoring-career-loretta-claiborne-special-olympics-athlete. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
"Loretta Claiborne." Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, www.ctphilanthropy.org/sites/default/files/resources/Speaker‗Bio‗Claiborne‗Loretta.pdf. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
O'Neil, Devon. "Loretta Claiborne Remains the Heart of Special Olympics." ESPN, 28 July 2015, www.espn.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/13329338/special-olympics-world-games-loretta-claiborne-remains-heart-special-olympics. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.
"U.S. Senator Honors Chief Inspiration Officer Loretta Claiborne." Special Olympics, 2024, www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/u-s-senator-honors-chief-inspiration-officer-loretta-claiborne. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.