Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Region: Africa

Greg Meyer

Running

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Egypt

Greg Meyer was the last American man to win the Boston Marathon (in 2:09.00 in 1983). He set American road racing records at 8k, 10k, 15k, 25k, and ten miles, and established world bests in the 15K (at Gasparilla in Tampa, FL) and ten miles (the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile in Washington, DC). He was also a sub-4:00 miler. Meyer was nominated for the Sullivan Award as America’s top amateur athlete in 1983. He has been inducted into the ESPN Road Racing, Road Runners Club of America, and Grand Rapids Sports Halls of Fame. Besides Boston, Meyer won the 1980 Detroit and 1982 Chicago Marathons and was the River Bank Run 25K champ seven times. Meyer is the University of Michigan’s Regional Director for Planned Giving.

Lisa Rainsberger

Running

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Egypt

Lisa Larsen Rainsberger, previously known as Lisa Larsen Weidenbach, (born May 7, 1961) is a distance runner. She is a member of the University of Michigan Track and Field and Road Runners of America Halls of Fame. Her marathon times were among the top ten in the US in 1984 and 1987–1994. As of 2008, she was listed four times in the top 100 all-time US women’s marathon performances, with a best time of 2:28:15.

In 1984, she ran the inaugural women’s Olympic marathon trials where she finished fourth, missing a spot in the Olympic games. In 1985, she won the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:34:06. An American did not win the Boston Marathon again until 2018, 33 years later, when Desiree Linden ran to victory. Rainsberger finished first back-to-back in the Chicago Marathon in 1988 (2:29:17) and 1989 (2:28:15), something no American woman has repeated since. She had run in numerous other distance races on the track and road, in the United States and abroad (notably Japan’s Hokkaido Marathon).

Rainsberger ended her 12-year career of professional competition after a final attempt to become a professional triathlete and training for the Olympics. She now focuses on her family and coaching. She coaches members of the Army’s world class athlete program, and her daughter, Katie Rainsberger, who is a champion in her own right.

Thomas Grilk

Running

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  Egypt

Thomas S. Grilk, Chief Executive Officer | Boston Athletic Association | Boston Marathon

Tom Grilk is the Chief Executive Officer of the Boston Athletic Association | Boston Marathon, taking on that role in January of 2011. He served as President of the B.A.A. Board of Governors from 2003 until 2011.

In addition to his duties as Chief Executive Officer, he served as the marathon’s finish line announcer from 1979 through 2013, and he is a former marathon competitor, with a personal best of 2:49 and a personal best at Boston of 2:54.

He was for many years a corporate and business lawyer, both with the Boston law firm Hale and Dorr and serving as counsel and general counsel to Boston area technology companies. He is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Michigan Law School.

Alice Moat

Special Olympics Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2013  –  Egypt

I have been a Special Olympics swimming coach for more than 25 years, serving as Head Coach of the Bethlehem Pennsylvania team for the 20 years. I am also the Pennsylvania Aquatics Sport Director, providing a liaison between the state competition staff and other volunteer aquatics coaches. In this position, I provide Special Olympics skills certification training to coaches, write articles on coaching tips, and help coaches with training and competition issues. I have been Aquatics Venue Coordinator at sectional and state competitions for the past 20 years, and I was the Head Aquatics Coach for Team PA USA at the 1999 World Games in North Carolina, and for the Pennsylvania team at National Games in 2010.

I am also a member of the local Bethlehem Special Olympics management team, currently serving as Manager, and previously as Volunteer Coordinator, Database Coordinator, Sports & Competition Coordinator, and Fundraising Coordinator.

I am currently retired, but previously worked for 31 years at PPL, Inc. (electric utility company) in the Fossil Fuels, Environmental and Information Services Departments.

Outside of Special Olympics, I am a lifetime member and volunteer for Girl Scouts and I help with science lessons at a local elementary school.

I have a sister with Down Syndrome who is a Special Olympics athlete in Virginia.

Denis Crean

Special Olympics Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2013  –  Egypt

Denis is an active marathon open water swimmer and the founder and CEO of WaveOne Swimming, an internationally recognized open water swimming organization. Denis organizes races, swim clinics, and events and develops swim programs for teams and organizations worldwide. Denis is a USA Swimming and USMS certified Coach. His 25 years of pool and open water training and racing give him the experience and expertise to cover a broad range of swim topics, including the fundamentals of swimming; stroke technique and proper body positioning; advanced pace/interval/distance training; and open water race preparation, safety, and strategy techniques.

Denis is an avid open water swimmer and competitor, with an accomplished race record of over 250 racing miles including:
• 1st place: Tampa Bay 24-mile Marathon Swim (2004);
• 2nd place (male), 3rd place (overall): 28.5 mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (2006);
• 2nd place (male), 4th place (overall): 41k Lake George Marathon Swim (2007);
• 1st place (age group), 5th place (overall): 5.85 mile Little Red Lighthouse Swim (2009);
• 5th overall Swim Around Governors Island (2012);
• 1st place (age group) Frogman 5K (2013)
2013 highlights:
• Handpicked to participate as a coach in USA Swimming’s National Team open water training camp.
• Creator of the Inaugural Aloha Splash Pool Open Water Race on April 6, 2013

Kester Edwards

Special Olympics Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2013  –  Egypt

Kester Edwards became involved in Special Olympics at age eight and has participated in aquatics, athletics, football, basketball, volleyball and floor hockey. Being a disciplined athlete he did well and was selected in 1987 and 1991 to represent Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago at the International Special Olympics Games where he won a gold medal in football and both silver and bronze in aquatics.
In 1995, he served as an official at the Aquatics venue at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Connecticut. He has also excelled as a trainer, working to condition Special Olympics athletes in Aquatics.
As the first Special Olympics athlete from Trinidad and Tobago appointed to Special Olympics Inc. Board of Directors, serve on the Rules committee and the first class of Special Olympics Former International Global Messenger.

In June 2001, Kester accepted an offer from Special Olympics Inc. as a Coordinator for Special Olympics’ Health and Research Initiatives, as well as the Regional Growth Division and now my position is Sport department and a member of the Washington DC (Special Olympics) Lions Club.

Gail Morning

Special Olympics Swimming

Served as envoy

  • 2013  –  Egypt

See Ree Seo was born in Seoul, South Korea on September 14, 1983. She was adopted by the Morning family through Philadelphia Catholic Social Services and given the name Gail Lynn in December of 1983. Shortly thereafter, Gail was diagnosed as developmentally delayed and she became a member of the Special Olympics family at the age of five. She participated in many sports including gymnastics, volleyball and tennis winning numerous gold medals in local and county competitions.

Recently, Gail has focused on five sports, bocce, bowling, power lifting, swimming and tennis. Gail was fortunate enough to be chosen to represent the United States at two Special Olympics World Games competitions. In 2003 she traveled to Dublin, Ireland and won three gold medals in power lifting. In 2007, Gail was a member of the U.S. swimming team and won a bronze medal as part of the women’s relay team.
Gail continues to train and hopes to represent the United States again at the 2015 World Games being held in California.

Shannon Rowbury

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Morocco

Shannon Rowbury is a three-time Olympian, two-time World Championships Bronze medalist, six-time United States champion, and the American Record Holder at 1500m, 2 miles, and 5000m. At the time, her 6th and 7th place finishes at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing were the highest finishes ever by an American woman at that distance. In August of 2016, she finished 4th place at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In June 2009, she won the US Championships at 1500m for the second time and shortly thereafter, she earned a Bronze medal at the World Championships in the same distance. Despite all of her achievements, Shannon’s most impressive performance to date came in July of 2015 when she broke the American 1500m record that stood for nearly 32 years, running a blistering fast 3:56.29. She is also the second fastest miler in American history.

A recognized world-class runner with a tremendous range from 800m to 5000m, Shannon’s story is as much about strength and perseverance against odds as it is about speed. In 2007, while a film student and athlete at Duke University, Shannon won the mile race at the NCAA Indoor Championships and then placed second in the 3000m an hour and a half later. Shortly after that indoor season, her collegiate career was abruptly cut short due to an injury that could have permanently sidelined her from her sport. This major setback forced Shannon to evaluate her physical limitations and challenged her emotional strength and passion for running. Through diligent rehabilitation, determination and an unfailing resolve to resume the sport that she loves, Shannon emerged stronger than ever and was back training for the 2008 Olympics within six months.

Running is Shannon’s second sport; Irish Dancing was her first. Beginning at the age of six, Shannon competed in Irish Dancing competitions throughout the country and twice at the World Championships in Ireland. She was ranked 7th nationally, before retiring at the age of 16 to focus on the sport she was introduced to just before her freshman year of high school—running. Shannon believes Irish Dancing was the foundation for her successful running career, preparing her mentally for competition and developing her coordination, balance and speed.

Kenyanna Wilson

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2017  –  Uganda

Kenyanna Wilson, running track and field at LSU from 2008-2011, was one of the team’s lead sprinters. During her career, she was a NCAA Champion, 8-time All-American, 2-time NCAA Mideast Regional Champion, 2-time SEC Champion, and 3-time All-SEC. In her senior year, Wilson’s personal best of 7.18 in the 60-meter dash ranked in a tie for number three on LSU’s all-time performance list. Following college, Wilson ran at Californian indoor and outdoor venues such as Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sacramento, and Norwalk.

Natasha Hastings

Track & Field

Served as envoy

  • 2018  –  South Africa

Natasha Hastings is an Olympic, World and US National Champion Track and Field Sprinter. She specializes in the 400 and 4×400 meter relay events. Born and raised in New York City, Natasha started running at the age of 9. While a student at A. Philip Randolph Campus High School, Natasha won the 2003 USATF Junior Nationals and the IAAF World Youth Championships in the 400 meters.

Following a successful prep career, Natasha attended the University of South Carolina, where she majored in Exercise Science. As a scholar athlete at USC, Natasha won both the 400 meters Indoor and Outdoor NCAA Championships her junior year, setting collegiate records in the process. Natasha finished her junior year undefeated in her competitions.

After turning pro in 2007, Natasha made her first USA Olympic Track and Field team in 2008, as a member of the Gold medal winning 4×400 meters relay team. Additionally, Natasha has made every USA World Championship team since becoming a professional sprinter. In 2007, 2009 and 2011, Natasha won the Gold medal as a member of the 4×400 meter relay team.

Not one to shy away from the Indoor season, Natasha won the 400 meters USA Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2011 and finished second in 2012. She went on to win the Bronze Medal in the 400 meters at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland. Although she missed the 2012 Olympic team, Natasha refocused on her personal goals and had an outstanding 2013 season. In 2013, Natasha won her first U.S. National Championship in the 400 meters. In addition to winning the 4×400 meter relay Gold at the 2013 World Championship, Natasha finished fifth in the 400 meter final.

While Natasha accomplishes a lot on the track, she knows that rest is just as important as exertion. She also knows how to have as much fun off the track as she does on the track. After she jokingly described the ladies of her collegiate track team as the “Gamecock Divas”, in honor of the University of South Carolina’s mascot, Natasha became known as the 400M Diva. For a further look into her personality and professional life, Natasha Hastings vlogs on her YouTube channel. Ultimately, as Natasha nears retirement, there is no doubt that she will continue to strive for excellence on and off the track.