03/09/2026
What a blessing you have been. You are strong, courageous, and an unknowingly humorous woman. You make someone smile every time you are at the barn. We are so happy to have had you as part of our Briarstone barn family for 18 years now. We are looking forward to the next 18 years. Colleen thank you for teaching us to never set limits and to be game for trying new things. We love you!
For more than three decades, Colleen Costello has been a powerful leader within Special Olympics Illinois. She first got involved at age 10, when she asked her coach, Jenny, if she could compete in gymnastics — a moment that sparked a partnership now 30 years strong.
Her journey has taken her around the world, including the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, where she competed in rhythmic gymnastics and earned multiple medals. “I was so excited when I got my first gold medal … and then I got the second, third, and fourth,” she said.
Today, Colleen serves on the Special Olympics Illinois Board of Directors, where she is now in her third term. Before meetings, she gathers ideas and feedback from athletes, coaches, and parents to share with leadership. “If you’re not an athlete, you don’t know what it’s like to be an athlete. So it’s my job to tell the board what it’s like.”
For Colleen, inclusion is the heart of everything she does. “Inclusion means that we make the right decisions for everybody, so that all people can participate in special events.”
On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate Colleen for her leadership and advocacy. Thank you, Colleen, for being the !
