Special Olympics Trifecta at Lincoln Park Middle School

The 2023 Minnesota Special Olympics Tri-Fecta Area III games will be entering its 32nd year after a 3 year hiatus. However, over 80 athletes have registered from across the northern area to compete in swimming and basketball events. The third event involving weightlifting, unfortunately did not happen, because there was no practice at the time.

Patrick Stojevich, the Director of the Area lll Special Olympics Trifecta, talked more about bringing the event back. “We had no competitions going on at all across the united states. And this is one of the first events starting out for this season with the Special Olympics and it’s great to be back. The athletes are ecstatic.” Patrick Stojevich said.

The athletes will be joined by their 40 coaches. This year, five teams from the local Area III Special Olympics will be competing to qualify for the State Games to be held this summer, and also Nationals. “This event is a qualifying event for the state Games area. There are three qualifications. If they qualify here, they’ll go to the state games, which is going to be held in June in Minneapolis.” Stojevich said. “After that, we go to the National Games and then following the national Games. If they qualify, then they go to the World Games and 2026 Minnesota will be hosting the national Games here in our state.”

Also for more information on the Minnesota Special Olympics you can look here. For more stories happening in the Lincoln Park area, you can look here.