Wake County athlete Rio Byrd wins four gold medals at Special Olympics

Wake County athlete Rio Byrd posted 42.5 in bench press, 92.5 in deadlift, 62.5 in squat and 197.5 in the combined event at Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota. Official results list the 22-year-old Raleigh athlete in the F-03 division at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota.

Byrd won gold in the bench press, deadlift, squat and combination events, set two personal records, and was among the first medal winners for the state delegation. Byrd said she trained three times a week and admitted the moment felt bigger than the weight on the bar: “I was a little nervous at first,” she said. “But once the powerlifting competition was over, I felt really good.”

Special Olympics said the 2026 USA Games ran June 20-26 in Minnesota, brought nearly 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states, and featured competition across 16 sports. Athletes are matched through divisioning, grouping competitors by gender, age and ability.

Raleigh has been part of Byrd’s life for most of her years, and her father often trains with her while coaches help shape her technique. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office raises money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the state’s largest year-round fundraising and awareness campaign for the movement. The office says nearly 2,000 law enforcement personnel support the campaign in North Carolina.

The Durham County cheer team earned gold in unified competition and became the first Special Olympics North Carolina cheer squad to attend a USA Games. Byrd’s advice to other athletes was simple: “Just go for it. You might surprise yourself.”