MARSHFIELD, Wis. (WSAW) – It was a dream decades in the making for Josh Follen and his family. The Marshfield athlete represented Team Wisconsin at the Special Olympics USA Games this week, walking hand-in-hand with teammates during the opening ceremony.
Follen’s mother Sharon Follen said the moment was emotional.
“Seeing that for the first time, I was tearing up,” Sharon said. “It was like one big happy family.”
When it was time for competition, Josh said he felt ready to go.
“I wasn’t too nervous, but I was pretty excited to get ready to do my first event,” Follen said.
His parents felt the jitters instead. Sharon said they barely slept the night before.
“We went to bed about two or three in the morning finally,” Sharon said, “and then the alarm went off.”
The nerves turned into hardware for Follen. He earned four fourth-place medals in powerlifting, placing in the squat, deadlift and bench press, along with a fourth medal in another event.
Follen, who lives with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, said his story and a recent video about his journey have sparked support well beyond central Wisconsin.
“I got to meet a guy, he was from New York and saw the video,” Follen said. “He was excited … and congratulated me.”
Sharon said the family has been surprised by how many people have recognized her son in public.
For Follen, the experience is one he hopes isn’t a one-time opportunity, looking to compete on the national stage again sometime soon.
Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app.
Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.
Copyright 2026 WSAW. All rights reserved.
