More Than Gold Medals: How Special Olympics Helped Maddie Csont Find Her Confidence

By Paul Raglow-DeFranco, Genesee Region Storyteller

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Before she became a three-time Special Olympics USA Games gold medalist gymnast, a leader among her peers, and someone who encourages fellow athletes to believe in themselves, Maddie Csont struggled to believe in herself.

“I struggled with speaking, meeting new people, and having the confidence to be myself,” Maddie said. “I was shy and quiet and didn’t like to speak to anyone.”

Today, the Fairport native is almost unrecognizable from that quiet teenager. Through Special Olympics New York, she found the confidence to step outside her comfort zone, build lifelong friendships, and discover a stronger sense of belonging.

A lifelong gymnast, Maddie joined Special Olympics New York after graduating from high school. Although she wasn’t sure what to expect, the organization quickly became much more than a place to continue competing.

“Now that I am older and have that experience with Special Olympics, it has made me feel a much better version of myself,” Maddie said. “At first I didn’t have many friends, and now I have a ton that I talk to all the time.”

Over time, Maddie became one of Special Olympics New York’s most accomplished gymnasts, qualifying for three consecutive Special Olympics USA Games and earning three gold medals while competing in the all-around, floor exercise, uneven bars, vault, and balance beam.

“I did not think I was going to win that many times,” she admitted. “I did not think I was going to be good enough to make it.”

While the medals remain among her proudest accomplishments, Maddie says the confidence she gained through competing has meant even more.

“After I took home my first gold, I felt like I could do anything.”

Maddie credits her longtime coach, Sarah Jane Clifford of the Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester, with helping her overcome self-doubt and become the athlete she is today.

“In the beginning of competitions, I would be scared I would mess up and fail in front of everyone,” Maddie recalled. “Sarah spent a lot of time hyping me up, saying I can do it and to be confident.”

The growth Maddie found through Special Olympics soon extended far beyond the gym. At her job in the produce department at Wegmans, she says she’s no longer afraid to start conversations or meet new people.

“When I first started my job, I was very shy and quiet and didn’t want to speak to anyone,” Maddie admitted. “But now I’m a lot more sociable. I like to start conversations now, and everyone I work with is super supportive of me.”

As Maddie’s confidence grew, she embraced another opportunity through Special Olympics New York by joining the Statewide Athlete Leadership Council. She describes the experience as life-changing, giving her the skills and confidence to lead by example while supporting fellow athletes.

“We learned how to deal with our emotions in constructive ways and handle stress and nerves both in and out of competition,” Maddie wrote in a previous reflection about the program. “We supported each other, as well as other athletes, during competitions. We learned how to lead by example by maintaining a positive attitude and demonstrating good sportsmanship.”

Today, Maddie brings those lessons back to her gymnastics team, encouraging athletes who are struggling with the same self-doubt she once faced.

“They think negatively about themselves sometimes, like how they aren’t a good athlete and they can’t do it,” she said. “I tell the other athletes that they can do it and not think negatively about themselves. I used to be in their same position, so I know how they feel.”

For Maddie, the greatest reward wasn’t standing atop the podium. It was becoming the confident person she never imagined she could be. It has given her the chance to travel, make lifelong friends, represent New York, and discover what she is capable of.

“It has absolutely changed my life,” Maddie said. “It has changed my life in ways I never thought possible. Don’t be scared. Give it a try. It might be scary at first because you won’t know anyone, but you’ll make lifelong friends because of it.”

 

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