Loretta was one of 9 children, and lived with her single mum and siblings. Loretta was born partially blind and intellectually challenged, she was unable to walk or talk until the age four. Through the support and commitment of her mum, Loretta eventually began to speak, walk and soon started to follow her big brother into running.
After being introduced to the Special Olympics her life started to change. She introduced President Bill Clinton at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games has won multiple medals in dozens of its events, and also holds the current women's record in her age group for the 5000 meters at seventeen minutes.
Loretta has also crossed the finish line of twenty-six marathons, twice placing among the top one-hundred women in the Boston Marathon. Loretta holds a 4th-degree black belt in karate, communicates in four languages, including American Sign Language, and holds three honorary doctorate degrees from Quinnipiac University, Villanova University, and York College of Pennsylvania, making her the first person with an intellectual disability known to receive such honours, according to Special Olympics Incorporated.
Today, Loretta is a celebrated athlete who was honoured in 1996 with ESPN's ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Her life story was told in Walt Disney Productions The Loretta Claiborne Story and in the biography, "In Her Stride" published by WorldScapes.
Loretta at 67 years young, still runs every day, and is very active in her community. Her motto for life is, “God is my strength, Special Olympics is my joy”.
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Show notes
Who is Loretta
Growing up in the 1950s
Dealing with discrimination all her life
Her strong and powerful mother who had big dreams for Loretta
Making the transition from school to work
Looking after her mother when she got sick
Moving into her first apartment
Advice from her mother
Finding out about the Special Olympics
Not being allowed to quit the Special Olympics
Starting going running with her brother
Getting into road racing in the late 70s and early 80s
Running in the Boston Marathon
Being told she was too good to compete in the Special Olympics as a runner
Starting martial arts and self training
Not being able to go to the gym because of Covid
Book - In her Stride
Having a film made about her life
Dealing with anger
Turning her anger into a positive
Learning to control her anger through martial arts
Deciding to learn sign language
Loving sports
2 mottos that Loretta lives her life by
The joy in her life
Being the Chief Inspiration Officer for the Special Olympics
Women who have inspired Loretta
Having good people in her life
Quick Fire Questions
Final words of advice
Social Media
Website www.lorettaclaiborne.com
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