Torben Schuffert

Torben Schuffert is an athlete from Special Olympics British Columbia in the North America Region. Torben previously participated in alpine skiing, currently he participates in swimming, bocce, track and field, and snowshoeing. Torben has been involved in Special Olympics since 2012.

Torben’s favorite parts about Special Olympics are being healthier and sharing with his friends how to be healthy and cheering for his friends. He also loves to go to competitions because they are fun and exciting. Torben also says that another one of his favorite parts about Special Olympics is that in Special Olympics everyone believes in you.

Torben is excited for the congress in Berlin. He is looking forward to the beautiful city of Berlin. He is excited to talk to people from all over the world that are athletes in Special Olympics and look at their projects. He is looking forward to speaking German and hopes that some of his family in Germany can come and see all the projects.

Torben is employed at Smithers Feedstore where he puts dog and cat food on shelves, and helps load feed into customers cars, as well as sometimes helping to deliver wood pellets. When Torben isn’t working or competing, he enjoys playing bass guitar, painting, cooking and baking, kickboxing, taking care of his animals, going for walks, bike rides, and runs, and whittling.

Torben says that being an athlete leader means helping others be healthy and make good choices. He says that as an athlete leader he likes to listen to all athletes, he loves to cheer everyone on. Torben is working on encouraging everyone to see the athletes as the stars that they are. Torben says that he wants all athletes to feel good about themselves so they can achieve their goals.

Torben’s grant plan is to create a program that invites people outside of the Special Olympics community into sport by teaching them about the capabilities of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). He will use common interests in the community such as: music, art, radio, or recreation to connect people to the Special Olympics community. It is Torben’s hope that everyone will feel welcome and included through this community event.