Jessica Lappin’s Journey of Strength, Sports, and Inclusion

March 10, 2025

What is in a name?

Joyful

Enthusiast

Special Olympian

Smart

Incredible

Capable

Athletic

Now that we know the name, let’s find out who she is. Jessica Lappin is a 38-year-old empowered young woman from Norton, Ma. Jessica has had to overcome some challenges over the years due to her health. She had multiple surgeries on her hands and feet for support to help her walk and use them. That never stopped her from doing what she loves.

Jess participates in multiple sporting events. First, her favorite sport is bowling. She also enjoys golf, cheerleading, and bocce. Because of her disability and the surgeries she’s had, when she bowls she needs to use a ramp to help support the heavy ball. Recently, she competed at a regional tournament for bowling and won her first gold medal.

Jess wearing her Special Olympics MA medals.

Jess also goes out, supporting her local college women’s basketball team with her Hellers Angels group of Special Olympians. Sometimes she is out with her Hockomock YMCA program playing in corn hole tournaments with local Boston businesses to spread the word of Special Olympics and INCLUSION! She is now a member of the Content Squad, and people will get to see her stories and photos on the Special Olympics MA website soon.

Anyone who meets Jess is sure to be empowered to be better at everything and learn more about the challenges people have to overcome in order to be the best they can.

Jess at Gillette Stadium before she competed in cheerleading.

Sydney Brooks is a member of the Special Olympics MA Content Squad. The mission of Special Olympics MA Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop communication skills and utilize their voices to assume meaningful leadership roles. As members of the Content Squad, athlete leaders contribute to Special Olympics MA story-telling through interviews, photos, video creation, and more.

What is in a name?

Joyful

Enthusiast

Special Olympian

Smart

Incredible

Capable

Athletic

Now that we know the name, let’s find out who she is. Jessica Lappin is a 38-year-old empowered young woman from Norton, Ma. Jessica has had to overcome some challenges over the years due to her health. She had multiple surgeries on her hands and feet for support to help her walk and use them. That never stopped her from doing what she loves.

Jess participates in multiple sporting events. First, her favorite sport is bowling. She also enjoys golf, cheerleading, and bocce. Because of her disability and the surgeries she’s had, when she bowls she needs to use a ramp to help support the heavy ball. Recently, she competed at a regional tournament for bowling and won her first gold medal.

Jess wearing her Special Olympics MA medals.

Jess also goes out, supporting her local college women’s basketball team with her Hellers Angels group of Special Olympians. Sometimes she is out with her Hockomock YMCA program playing in corn hole tournaments with local Boston businesses to spread the word of Special Olympics and INCLUSION! She is now a member of the Content Squad, and people will get to see her stories and photos on the Special Olympics MA website soon.

Anyone who meets Jess is sure to be empowered to be better at everything and learn more about the challenges people have to overcome in order to be the best they can.

Jess at Gillette Stadium before she competed in cheerleading.

Sydney Brooks is a member of the Special Olympics MA Content Squad. The mission of Special Olympics MA Athlete Leadership is to empower athletes to develop communication skills and utilize their voices to assume meaningful leadership roles. As members of the Content Squad, athlete leaders contribute to Special Olympics MA story-telling through interviews, photos, video creation, and more.

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