From Beginner to Champion

Hudson Winfree is a 13-year-old Special Olympics Tennessee (SOTN) athlete from Warren County Middle School in the Upper Cumberland Region. As an individual interested in every sport, Hudson is a competitive and sportsmanlike athlete who is more than physically capable of competing.

After his involvement with basketball, softball and many other sports, he took on snowboarding for the first time at the recent 2025 State Winter Games presented by in Gatlinburg with Warren County High School.

His extraordinary journey started when he stepped foot in the snow at Ober Mountain, practicing the day before his competition. Like many others, Hudson began his experience on a learning curve of frustration.

With the support and encouragement of his family, peer buddies and individuals on the Warren County team, he exceeded all expectations at his first competition.

Marlin Grey and Liya Johnson helped guide Hudson throughout the competition and build meaningful relationships to support him physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“Being able to become close friends with them and know you can rely on them,” said his mother, Jenna Sullens. ”We are thankful for this chance for him.”

Building relationships and mentors throughout the weekend pushed him outside his comfort zone and gave him lasting connections with people he’ll be friends with forever.

Hudson demonstrated remarkable confidence and fearlessness with his first-ever Special Olympics competition. It became clear that Hudson wasn’t just participating; he was excelling.

With his performance, Hudson won gold medals for both the Snowboarding Slalom and Giant Slalom events, moving up from the green level to purple level after just one day competing in the sport, a remarkable achievement.

After being reluctant initially, Hudson’s new triumphs and successes gave him confidence and accomplishment. He grew eager to push his limits and set his sights on the highest hill, where more challenges awaited him to conquer.

“If they would’ve told Hudson to go to the top right now, he would’ve been there,” his dad Josh Winfree stated. "He felt like he won the Super Bowl.”

Even when competing against far more experienced and older athletes with whom he had grown strong relationships, Hudson excelled. His transformation from a reluctant participant to a driven competitor is admirable. The support, bonds he created, and fun he shared with his teammates truly made the weekend special.

“It was life-altering in a lot of ways,” Josh Winfree mentioned. "It was mind-blowing and humbling to see how much people do for my kids and us.”

They expressed their gratitude for Hudson’s inclusion and social interactions with his peers, as well as the culture that had been built among the athletes and the environment that weekend.

“He gets to meet new friends and find new relationships, they pick each other up and mentor one another,” said both Josh and Jenna.

Being pushed into the situation and stepping outside his comfort zone led to a new network of friends and supporting peers, victory and confidence, and a new sport he had proven to be amazing at in just a short amount of time.

Hudson and his family wholeheartedly encourage other Special Olympics athletes to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new challenges and experiences.