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David Booth, an inspiring athlete and community advocate, serves as an Athlete Representative on the Board of Directors for the 2026 USA Games, bringing his dedication to the mission of inclusion and passion for sports to the forefront. Originally from North Dakota, David now lives in Richfield and is an active member of the Special Olympics Minnesota community, having been involved for the past five years and now serving on the board.

Shaun Linsey is a dedicated Special Olympics Texas athlete with nearly 13 years of involvement in the organization. Competing in a diverse range of sports such as golf, kayaking, sailing, cheerleading, volleyball, and tennis, Shaun finds immense joy in making new friends through sports. His passion lies in inspiring and encouraging fellow athletes, fostering team spirit, and recognizing everyone’s accomplishments.

Learn more about one of the country’s largest sporting events in 2026.

Chris Gade is the Vice President for Communications at the University of Minnesota, where he leads strategic marketing and communications efforts to elevate the University’s reputation and engagement across local and global communities. With nearly 40 years of experience in public affairs—including over three decades at Mayo Clinic—Chris has played a pivotal role in shaping communications, branding, and executive visibility for leading institutions. His tenure at Mayo Clinic included serving as Chief Public Affairs Officer, where he oversaw media relations, government engagement, and thought leadership strategies, as well as leading the development of The Mayo Clinic (2018) documentary by Ken Burns. He later brought his expertise to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago before returning to Minnesota. Chris holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School and an undergraduate degree from Luther College, where he now serves on the Board of Regents.

Roberto Rios is Chief Marketing Officer at Schwan’s Company, where he leads the organization’s marketing strategy with a focus on driving brand growth and purpose-led engagement. He brings over 25 years of experience in the consumer goods industry, having held global leadership roles at PepsiCo, including Global Chief Marketing Officer for Beverages. In that role, he stewarded iconic brands like Pepsi, Gatorade, and Aquafina. Roberto began his career in research and development at Procter & Gamble in Mexico after earning his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the National University of Mexico. His diverse professional journey has spanned multiple countries across Latin America, sharpening his global marketing perspective and passion for connection through shared values.

WWT will use innovative technology to enhance event experience for athletes, coaches and fans

Chad Gable exudes the competitiveness, intensity, and confidence of an Olympic athlete for good reason: He was one.

Milestone ignites a coast-to-coast campaign that spotlights athletes and lights up the Twin Cities skyline in gold

Alexa Guarachi Bruner started playing tennis at age 5–both of her parents are teaching pros and were her coaches growing up. Alexa has an older brother named Stefan with Down syndrome who is her inspiration. She played collegiate tennis at the University of Alabama, where she graduated with a degree in Public Relations in 2013 and earned multiple All-America and All-SEC honors. Alexa says that her best tennis memory so far was playing mixed doubles against Serena Williams and Andy Murray on Centre Court at 2019 Wimbledon. She holds dual citizenship in the US and Chile, and she competed in the Pan American Games, was a French Open finalist, and was a US Open semifinalist. Currently, Alexa serves as the Director of Tennis & Pickleball at Watersound Club in Florida.

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, who attended UNC Wilmington, was the Twins’ second-round draft pick (59th overall) in 2018. Jeffers made his Major League debut on August 20, 2020, and was named the Charles O. Johnson Award winner as the Most Improved Twin in 2023. In 2024, he set career highs in numerous offensive categories including home runs, RBI, runs, hits, and doubles while being named the 2024 Mike Augustin “Media Good Guy” Award, voted on by the Twin Cities chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Beyond his on-field achievements, Jeffers is an active participant in the Minnesota Twins Community Fund, which focuses on empowering youth, fostering belonging, and nurturing the planet, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact across Twins Territory.