B.C. athlete finds belonging in women's soccer debut
Julie Black, along with teammates and competitors, is making history at the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games Medicine Hat 2026. This marks the first time a women’s division has been included at a national Games in Canada, which is being played in conjunction with the co-ed competition.
The athlete from British Columbia said the new format has been one of her favourite parts of the week.
“Being in an all-women’s team – this is my first time – and it’s a big deal because it’s all girls,” said Black. “We get to feel like we belong, and we feel like the ball could be passed to us instead of be passed just to one of the other guys.”
The soccer tournament, which runs until Saturday, August 15, includes a five-team, all-women division this year. While Special Olympics Canada sent an all-women’s team to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games, the national Games in Medicine Hat mark a new milestone.
Tom Davies, vice president of sport at Special Olympics Canada, shared the importance behind adding the new division this year.
“We saw, looking at our participation rates and numbers in team events, that women and females were seriously under-represented in those co-ed teams,” he said. “So, we did a number of focus groups and discussions with athletes and coaches, and understood that there’s likely going to be more participation if we offer female-only divisions – so, we decided to pilot it this year at national Games. Creating that opportunity on a national stage hopefully encourages more girls to get involved in soccer, or team sports in general.”
In addition to the joy she’s feeling with her team, Black has also found the same sense of inclusion since joining Special Olympics programming more generally. After growing up being told she was too small to play soccer, she registered for her first Special Olympics offerings when she was 19.
“It has been amazing,” said Black. “I feel like I’ve been included – I actually feel like I belong somewhere, instead of feeling like an outcast.”
Although the soccer tournament has been plagued by unexpected rain, Black is soaking up every moment. She said she already knows a few players on other teams, having played against them before, but she’s looking forward to getting to know everybody.
Black also had a message for all of her family, friends, and supporters – including those back in Nanaimo.
“I’m very grateful that they got me into soccer,” she said. “They’ve really believed in me and didn’t give up on me when I thought that I wasn’t going to make it anywhere.”
Having made it all the way to national Games this summer in Medicine Hat, Black is now focused on her final days of competition.
The schedule for all competition and livestream links can be found online: socmedhat2026.ca
— story by Peter Reimer
