A pair of Georgians are returning from the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin with silver symbols of success. Georgians Joseph “Caleb” Guy and Raven Allen brought home the silver medal in the 200 Meter Tandem Kayaking event.
Guy and Allen have been participants for decades in special events in an array of state games, such as “bocce, bowling, basketball, and soccer.” The experiences of these two athletes are unique on several levels. For example, Allen, who is a native of Augusta, the Special Olympics presented her with the experience of being “one of the first members of her family to travel to another country.”
Allen is deeply engaged in athletics for herself and for working with others. Allen works at Augusta Development Specialists, volunteers helping out seniors, plays games with her friends, and goes to the gym. Guy, a resident of Canton, Georgia, served as his high school’s basketball and soccer team manager for four years. “Beloved” by his classmates, Guy was nominated “to the homecoming court.”
Guy has competed with Special Olympics for 12 years in basketball, kayaking, soccer and tennis. In Berlin Guy will represent Special Olympics USA in kayaking. He is a student at Transition Academy, where he “receives vocational training and developing skills to transition into life after high school.”
Guy shared that “his favorite thing about the Special Olympics is playing sports with my friends.” Guy maintains a busy and productive schedule. He works “for EC2 Creations, where he sorts and folds shirts, and works for Chick-fil-A Canton Marketplace, where he assists with front-of -house responsibilities.” As reported, the Canton community came out to the Chick-fil-A restaurant where he works and “sent him off with a big celebration” before he traveled to Berlin. See here for an embedded graphic of Joseph “Caleb” Guy of Ball Ground, Georgia.
