Special Olympics Chicago Celebrates 50th Anniversary

CHICAGO — One of Chicago’s most decorated athletes sat on a bench inside Independence Park’s stately brick field house on the Northwest Side, a slew of medals hanging around his neck shining almost as brightly as Brian Freese’s smile. Dozens of passers-by acknowledged Brian, 33, the Special Olympics Chicago standout who replied to greetings with a hearty “Hello” and to hugs with a sincere “Thank you.” They were the people who have seen how hard Brian competes in his favorite sports of bocce ball, flag football and soccer — the sport in which he once challenged an opponent for knocking his teammate’s glasses off. The people who remember when Brian used to go bowling with a ball that changed colors and the day he first jumped into the pool down the hallway at age 4.