Palmer Special Olympics athlete places 4th in World Summer Games in Berlin

Special Olympics athlete Gretchen Winter, 31, of Palmer and a member of Team USA, was nervous as she stepped to the start of the women's 1,500-meter level A race at the 2023 World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany. Nursing a sore foot that forced her to withdraw from the 800 earlier, she knew the competition would be tough with a field filled with skilled athletes.

"I really wanted to do well and run my best as I have been training hard to make it to the Games and represent my country," said Winter.

With a full contingency of German relatives and family from Alaska and California cheering for her in the stands complete with posters and signs, she took a calming breath and set her feet waiting for the signal to start. The pace was brisk with Winter and her family celebrating a fourth-place finish.

Highly competitive, Winter is a trailblazer in her community. She made the Palmer High School varsity track team as a sophomore at her first tryout. One of the first athletes with an intellectual disability to achieve a varsity position, she represented her school in the 1,600 and 3,200 relays, and the 800. She is now a volunteer coach for that same varsity team, filling the role of "rabbit" and challenging teammates on the middle distance and cross country teams to catch her — if they can!

For her 30th birthday, Winter bought a puppy, a miniature Bernedoodle that she named Christmas. The pair can be seen running the trails in Palmer, on average logging five miles each every day.

Asked what message she would like to share with others, Winter said, "I am strong and can do all things."

Prior to the pandemic, Winter was a Health Messenger for Special Olympics Alaska. She works part time at The Home Depot as a greeter and garden associate and in her spare time is an avid reader loving historical fiction and murder mysteries. Winter will celebrate her 31st birthday June 23 while in Berlin.

Winter is slated to compete in the 400 relay on Saturday. The race will be broadcast on ESPN3 and ESPN+.