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When Special Olympian Loretta Claiborne was a child, her mother imparted advice she’s never forgotten: “You don’t quit.”
Those words have stuck with the York County native ever since, shaping her athletic and professional careers.
Diagnosed at a young age with an intellectual disability, Claiborne was taught to always strive and believe in herself.
“A disability doesn’t define who you are,” Claiborne told Spotlight PA.
Her record speaks for itself: In the more than 50 years since she started competing, Claiborne has won 15 medals at nine Special Olympics World Games, completed over 30 marathons, and received the ESPYs Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. She now sits on the Special Olympics Board of Directors, serving as chief inspiration officer and an advisor to the CEO.
Claiborne’s athletic accomplishments and work advocating for people with intellectual disabilities earned her a nomination for our PA Local Heroes series, sponsored by Ballard Spahr.
Claiborne, one of seven children, grew up in the Parkway housing projects north of the City of York. She described the area as community-minded and full of families.
But having a disability came with hardships. And Claiborne said her mother dutifully prepared her to overcome them.
“She knew she had a child that wasn't going to be in the community as the kid to get picked for the game, she knew that I was going to struggle, and she would always say to me ‘Look, you got to work two times harder,’” Claiborne said.
Sports ended up helping her obtain the independence her mom saw as vital.
At first, Claiborne had no interest in the Special Olympics, she said. That changed in 1970 when a school counselor saw her running.
She ended up participating in the York County Special Olympics that year, competing in several events. Quietly, her career was getting underway.
“Next thing I know, 1972 I was going to California for the Special Olympic Games,” Claiborne said. Decades of competitions followed.
Claiborne attributed her longevity to her mother’s teachings.
“You quit today, you quit tomorrow,” she recalled her mother saying.
Through the Special Olympics, Claiborne also ended up taking up other sports at the competitive level, including figure skating, swimming, bowling, and tennis.
Lin Huber, the coach who taught Claiborne to swim and skate, called her work ethic “unbelievable.” Huber has been a Special Olympics coach for more than 40 years, in York County and statewide.
Huber, who first met Claiborne in the 1970s, described Claiborne as a “kind, loving, generous” person who will also “let you know when you’re wrong.” She praised Claiborne’s advocacy and message of resolve, touting the groundwork she’s laying for the next generation of athletes.
Claiborne’s time with the Special Olympics has taken her across the globe as both a competitor and champion for people with disabilities.
“I represent the movement, where it is today, and where it's going to go in the future,” Claiborne said of this ongoing work.
In her free time, Claiborne likes to knit. She tends to donate many of her creations, particularly preemie hats for babies and knockers for women who have had breast cancer.
Claiborne hasn’t slowed down, and vows to go wherever she is needed to advocate for people with disabilities.
“Never underestimate the power of a person and always remember to look at the person first as a whole, before you look at them differently,” Claiborne said. “We're all human and we all deserve to have respect.”
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