MILFORD — Representing Massachusetts on the national stage was an unforgettable experience for two Milford Public Schools educators, but for Alexis Forgit and Paula LeBlanc, the biggest takeaway from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games wasn’t the medals—it was the people.
Forgit, a special education teacher in Milford High School’s pre-vocational program, served as a track coach for Team Massachusetts, while LeBlanc, a behavioral assistant at Brookside Elementary, coached bowling during the nine-day event in Minneapolis.
Team Massachusetts returned home with an impressive 33 medals, including 10 gold, eight silver, and 15 bronze, but both coaches said the experience went far beyond competition.
“The athletes truly felt like stars from the moment we left Massachusetts,” Forgit said, recalling a State Police escort to the airport, a special sendoff from Delta Airlines, and thousands of volunteers welcoming athletes at the University of Minnesota. “Everything just got better from there.”
Forgit coached eight track athletes from across the Commonwealth, watching each of them rise to the occasion on the national stage.
“Every athlete had a personal record in at least one event,” she said. “They absolutely thrived.”
LeBlanc said one of the most memorable parts of the Games was the camaraderie between athletes from every corner of the country. Through the popular tradition of trading state pins, competitors quickly became friends, cheering one another on regardless of which state they represented.
“It was amazing,” LeBlanc said. “We bowled against athletes from Mississippi, but by the end of the week we were all friends.”
Both coaches said those lessons in teamwork and inclusion carry over into their work in Milford classrooms and athletics. They praised Milford’s strong culture of Unified Sports, Best Buddies, and Special Olympics, noting the community’s support for athletes both on and off the field.
For anyone considering volunteering, both had the same message: jump in.
“You get so much more out of it than you ever put in,” Forgit said. “Come to a practice. You won’t leave.”
Residents interested in volunteering with Special Olympics Milford can contact Program Director Loren Blanchard, as the organization welcomes volunteers for a variety of sports and programs throughout the year.
For the full interview with Alexis Forgit and Paula LeBlanc, click here: https://soundcloud.com/myfm1013/the-zone-alexis-forgit-and
