Plymouth Mother-Daughter Duo to Coach, Compete in Special Olympics USA Games

A Plymouth athlete and her mom were both selected to be a part of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, a competition that’s fortunately for them, close to home.

The Special Olympics USA Games are in Minnesota this year and athletes throughout the country will come to Minneapolis to bring positivity and showcase their abilities.

A few of those athletes are especially local, including Plymouth resident Elizabeth Neuville, who will be competing in track and field. Her events are sprints: the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay race.

“Now, I’m all about running. Which is so fun! And that way, I get to be speedy,” Neuville said enthusiastically.

Neuville learned that she qualified for the team last year after earning a gold medal and going through an interview process. She has a particular goal — she wants to beat the boys. She’s done it before.

“That has always been my drive, to always beat them in my races,” she said.

Her track journey started about 19 years ago when her twin sister encouraged her to join the team. Her first year, she started with throws, but nearly immediately, she wanted to try something else.

“And then I went to the coach and I said ‘I want to run.’ So I was running the 100 and the 200 by the end of the week,” Neuville said.

One of Elizabeth Neuville’s first-place finishes. Her mom says she’s always been driven and competitive.

Nationally Recognized

Fast forward to now, and Neuville is 24 — and she’s a Special Olympian. Though she’s competed at different levels throughout the years, this is her first time on this national stage.

“This is my first time ever going to the USA Games, so that’s huge. And I’m just so excited,” Neuville said.

There’s a common thread in everything Neuville does: prove that yes, she can. Case in point: she can beat the boys.

“She’s very ambitious. She strives for the top all the time,” her mom, Patty Neuville said. “She always wants to compete against the boys, right? And she wants to be better than them– because that’s how she won her first gold medal.”

Patty said her daughter working with a team has been great for strength and confidence. Elizabeth has Down syndrome, and Patty said a physical therapist was impressed at her strength, which is a credit to her sports.

Though she qualified for the Minnesota team in track, Elizabeth also competed in bocce, bowling, basketball, golf, tennis, swimming, among other sports.

Elizabeth Neuville; her coach, Peter Carey; and her mom and coach, Patty Neuville.

Mother-Daughter Duo

Patty Neuville gets to watch her daughter’s growth and success firsthand because she was selected as a coach for Team Minnesota. She said she’s grateful she gets to do it alongside her daughter.

“The athletes just bring me so much joy. Every single one of them wants to be there, and it’s very exciting for me,” Patty Neuville said.

There are a number of coaches working with the Minnesota delegation, including Peter Carey, who has known Elizabeth for many years.

“She’s always trying to be the fastest, best version of herself. But she does it in such a joyful way that’s just totally infectious and brings joy to all the coaches,” Carey said.

Carey coaches in other events, too, including downhill skiing. He said the organization’s mission of inclusion is important.

“I think Special Olympics takes it just to the next level and gives all these athletes just a unique place and ability to succeed outside of sports and just in life,” Carey said.

And Elizabeth Neuville wants her teammates to know: yes, they can.

“They get the chance to do their best, and hopefully beat some boys!” she said.

The Special Olympics USA Games begin on June 20 at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus. 

Neuville competes in the preliminary races the mornings of June 23 and 24 in the 100, 4×100 and 200-meter races. If she makes it to the finals, those races will be on June 25 and 26.

Elizabeth Neuville runs with her coach, Peter Carey, on a track at Breck School.

Plymouth