Coach Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

Special Olympics Florida coach Valerie Lundin has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Special Olympics North America for her more than 40 years of service.

A Pasco County coach, Valerie has supported our athletes in almost every role possible. She’s been an event volunteer, a county director, a games director, and most notably a coach. During her time in that role, she’s coached 11 different sports and shaped the lives of countless athletes.

No matter how much she did for her athletes, no matter how hard she worked, Val believes she got more from them than they got from her.

“They show more courage every day than a lot of us do,” she has previously said. “I feel they’ve taught me more than I’ve taught them. Over the years, they have inspired and challenged me to help them reach their full potential.”

Val has also worked tirelessly to recruit and mentor new coaches, said Special Olympics Florida Regional Director Jessica Ott.

“Introducing a new coach or volunteer to the world of Special Olympics and amazing athletes is Val’s greatest goal,” she said.

The Annette K. Lynch Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes contributions over the entirety of a career by a Special Olympics coach. It honors and promotes individuals who have made a significant contribution to Special Olympics through coaching over a minimum of 20 years. Read more about Val and the other winners here.