Little Victoria was realizing that children’ s hospitals could be a place for healing.
The more I volunteered, the more I realized the power of helping people. Serving others got me to stop thinking about myself and out of the loop of perpetual doom. I quite literally got out of my own way. I also started working with the Special Olympics, which was the very first event I covered when I started my job at ESPN. I was forever changed when I came back from reporting on the World Games in Los Angeles in 2015, and I couldn’ t shake the feeling that I needed to do more when the cameras were not rolling. I just loved everything about the movement.
I found myself feeling so seen and loved while also having sparks of joy as I began to work with so many incredible Special Olympics athletes. I could be having the worst day or be full of anxiety but all that these athletes saw was someone who was there to play with them, coach them, support them, and cheer them on. In turn, they were teaching me that sports are so much more than winning, politics, or people tearing you down. Sports could be a wonderful thing, impactful and amazing. The Special Olympics is all about the joy of competition, cheering on your fellow competitor and being“ brave in the attempt.”
51