Credit:<\/span> Matt Nelson<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNelson told the RoundTable in an email about Krueger\u2019s work ethic and determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am super proud of Courtney\u2019s journey to the 2026 USA Games and her ultimate result of earning the Combined Gold Medal in her weight class,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cShe worked tirelessly for over a year after being named as part of Team Illinois. She often lifted three to four sessions a week in addition to other sports practices and holding down a full time job. Trusting the process of my coaching plan, she was able to stay injury-free and continued to improve and increase her PR\u2019s [personal records] through out the season. Courtney always believed in herself while also supporting her teammates. She is a true champion inside and out.\u201d<\/p>\n
A classroom of fans<\/h4>\n For the past 15 years, Krueger has worked with toddlers at the McGaw YMCA Children\u2019s Center, where she\u2019s a co-lead for that age group. She told them about her upcoming competition, but isn\u2019t sure if they watched it. <\/p>\n
Krueger was eager to see them when she returned. \u201cBefore I left, they gave me a card saying congratulations, good luck, and they gave me a little gift, and it was really nice,\u201d she said. When she took her medals to work after getting back, all the kids wanted to hold them.<\/p>\n
How does she feel after competing? \u201cI feel incredible,\u201d Krueger said. \u201cIt\u2019s just the best feeling in the world, knowing that I\u2019m that strong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/aside>\nFamily support<\/h4>\n Her dad and boyfriend, Aaron, traveled with her to the University of Minnesota to watch her compete. Two cousins who live in the area and a group of friends from the Evanston Special Olympics group joined in to cheer. Krueger\u2019s mom was recuperating from surgery and unable to be there in person. Her family watched each event on TV and was cheering her on via a family group chat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Courtney was invited to represent the State of Illinois a year ago, she wasn\u2019t sure she could do it. She won the state championship in 2019, but she was younger and stronger then. But her coach Matt \u2014 what a wonderful guy! \u2014 convinced her that she could do it,\u201dsaid her father, Curt Krueger. \u201cShe worked very hard, training four times a week, all while holding a full time job. Special Olympics is just an amazing organization. What a wonderful thing Eunice Shriver did when she created it. The most impressive thing is how participating in Special Olympics has improved Courtney\u2019s self-confidence. We are so proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friends and future plans<\/h4>\n Beside competing, another thing Krueger likes about Special Olympics is meeting other athletes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made a ton of new friends,\u201d she said. \u201cThey [Special Olympics Illinois] gave us a bag of like 50 pins, and then we just traded them with athletes from the other states. There was this thing called Target Village with different activities where you could walk around.\u201d <\/p>\n
What\u2019s next for Krueger? She\u2019s hoping to make the U.S. team for the next Special Olympics World Games<\/a><\/strong> scheduled for Oct. 16-25, 2027 in Santiago, Chile.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\n\n\t\t<\/aside>\n
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