What is loretta claiborne doing now

Loretta Claiborne was the middle of seven children in a poor, single-parent family. Born partially blind and intellectually challenged, she was unable to walk or talk until age four. Eventually, though, she began to run. And before she knew it, she had crossed the finish line of twenty-six marathons, twice placing among the top one-hundred women in the Boston Marathon.

She introduced President Bill Clinton at the Special Olympics World Summer Games has won medals in dozens of its events, and also holds the current women's record in her age group for the meters at seventeen minutes. Considering all of Claiborne's achievements, these are just small steps in her life's mission to show that persons with intellectual and physical disabilities are equal to those without.

Now in her mid-sixties, she recalls a time when children taunted her for being different and how the taunting turned her into an angry young woman who was expelled from high school and fired from a job. Although she loved to run and used her speed and strength to protect herself in fights against cruel classmates, she credits the Special Olympics with helping her realize that her tremendous athletic talent could be used to do good.

Loretta is now a world-class runner and gifted motivational speaker who happens to also be a Special Olympics Athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability.

In fact, she is perhaps the most celebrated athlete in the history of Special Olympics. Loretta's life's accolades are far too numerous to list, but a few of her most impressive awards include two honorary doctorate degrees Quinnipiac University in and Villanova University in ; completing 26 marathons with a best time of ; and finishing in the top women of the Boston Marathon.

Claiborne is a fourth-degree black belt in karate, can communicate in four languages and is fluent in American Sign Language. She's also appeared twice on "The Oprah Winfrey Show. Additionally, she holds the current Special Olympics women's record in her age group for the meters at 17 minutes; and in her early 60s, she's still trying her hand at new sports, like golf.

Now in her early 60s, she recalls a time when children taunted her for being different and how the taunting turned her into an angry young woman who was expelled from high school and fired from a job. But with the help of running, martial arts and eventually the Special Olympics, she was able to develop effective coping skills.

In , Loretta discovered her love for running through friendly competitions with her older brother Hank. Still, her anger lingered. Coaches, mentors and friends constantly reminded her that her feet would take her more places than her fists ever would.

As a temporary remedy, Loretta signed up for karate at the behest of longtime friend Bobby Simpson. She soon learned how to channel her anger and aggression, and she worked her way up the ranks to a fourth-degree black belt. Five years later, when Loretta was 18, the Special Olympics found her with the help of Janet McFarland, a social worker turned advocate.

McFarland figured the program would serve as an outlet for Loretta. Here, she would meet a community of people who had faced some of the same obstacles she had. She also mingled with mentors and coaches who would become lifelong friends. One of those coaches was Roxanne Dubbs, who has known Claiborne since When Dubbs retired, she began to join Claiborne on road trips to help ensure everything went smoothly, and the two developed a tight bond.

As time went on, Claiborne realized the importance of her place in the world. And in , Rita, who had never seen her daughter in action, showed up to the county meet where Loretta would be competing. Rita had just gotten out of the hospital after suffering a heart attack, but was determined to be there for her daughter despite her illness. I thought it was great that she came to my event. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.