SANDPOINT — Six months from now, 32 athletes will represent Idaho at the USA Special Olympic Games in Minnesota. Among those athletes is Sandpoint’s own Campbell Wyman. 

Wyman will be participating in the aquatic portion of the games alongside 205 other athletes from around the country. He is one of two swimmers that will represent Special Olympics Idaho, with his mother, Melissa Wyman, attending the games as a coach.  

Over the span of six days, and competing at a national stage which will be covered by ESPN, Campbell Wyman will have a chance to qualify for the World Games, located in Chile, in 2027. This is his first year qualifying for the USA Games.  

“Campbell is an accomplished swimmer that impressed everyone at the State Summer Games,” Special Olympics Idaho fundraising manager Amy Shultz said.  

Fame isn’t unfamiliar to the Sandpoint local, who was part of the 2019 Sandpoint High School 200-yard medley relay that qualified for the state championship. Wyman swam with the Sandpoint Sharks Swim Club and the local Special Olympics team, while also being a two-time Long Bridge Swim finisher.  

More notably, Wyman won the 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter breaststroke and 100-meter breaststroke at the 2019 Idaho Special Olympics. He additionally earned a spot on the USA Down Syndrome Swimming National Team, for which he was the first USADSS swimmer to represent Idaho at that specific level.  

Donations are being accepted to assist Wyman on his trip to Minnesota. According to the fundraiser’s site, monetary support will go toward travel, meals, lodging, equipment and other essentials needed to provide a “priceless experience of independence, pride and joy.” The fundraiser can be found at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/fundraising/campbell-wyman  

    Campbell Wyman swims the freestyle on Saturday.
 (Photo courtesy of MAX ZUBERBUHLER)