OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — Next summer, Ryan Moon will be making a big splash in Orlando, representing Team Wisconsin at the Special Olympics.
“I’m so excited," he said.
Out of 120 hopefuls in the state, Moon was just one of eight selected for the swim team. Team Wisconsin is taking 65 athletes to represent the state next summer in bocce, bowling, track, softball, flag football and swimming. Moon will compete in two individual swimming events and one relay.
“In the water is where Ryan's disability disappears," said Debbie Hoff, Head Swim Coach for Team Wisconsin Special Olympics. "When he swims, he doesn't have an intellectual disability. He is truly an athlete at that point.”
If anyone deserves this opportunity, it’s him, she said.
“Ryan's an effortless swimmer," said Hoff. "And he thoroughly enjoys it. He swims with his whole heart, and yet it looks so smooth and so easy and he loves to do it. He smiles at practice he smiles when he's swimming, and he just has a good time.”
Friends and family cheered Moon on Thursday, as he signed a letter of intent, officially joining Team Wisconsin for the 2022 games.
“I was okay before I arrived," said Jamie Moon, Ryan's father. " I was overwhelmed, and we got here with so many people that came out to support him. It was unbelievable, brought my wife to tears, and I'm trying not to cry myself.”
Ryan already knows what he wants to bring home from Orlando.
“The gold medal," he said. "I should win the gold medal.”
