Kendra Franklin Nominated for Team USA Swim Team at Special Olympics World Games

Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 6:31 AM

By Travis Thayer @eagle993

Team USA Selection Camp is set for September

(Southeast Indiana) - Kendra Franklin has officially been nominated to Team USA as a Level 2 Swimmer for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile.

Her swim coaches, Jesse Laub and David Baugh, and members of the Special Olympics Indiana – Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties management team, and fellow athletes, made a trip to Franklin's home last Saturday to surprise her with the news.

Franklin recently competed at the USA Games in Minnesota, where she took Gold in the 100-Yard Individual Medley. She also helped Indiana's 4x50 Medley Relay team take Silver.

"If you know Kendra, you know this honor didn't happen overnight. It is the result of years of hard work, perseverance, countless hours in the pool, and an unwavering commitment to being the very best athlete she can be," reads a statement from Special Olympics Indiana - Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties.

In late September, she will travel to Pittsburgh to train alongside fellow nominees from across the country at Team USA Selection Camp, where the final roster for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games will be chosen.

As Kendra pursues this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, our local delegation of Special Olympics Indiana – Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties has committed to raising $9,500 to help send her on this incredible journey should she earn a place on Team USA.