ACCESS graduate represents Ļć½¶Ö±²„in 2026 Special Olympics
Contact: Julia Weeden
STARKVILLE, Miss.āSports lover and powerlifter Seth Slocum has received the surprise many long to hear. He recently learned he will represent Mississippi Stateās Unified Sports Program at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games next summer in Minnesota.
(Video by Sarah Kirk)
More than 60 of Slocumās family members, friends and coaches gathered at MSUās Joe Frank Sanderson Center when he received the good news in late August. The celebration included a video filled with congratulationsāincluding former Ļć½¶Ö±²„baseball player and current Oakland Aās standout Brent Rooker, current Bulldog quarterback Blake Shapen and Atlanta Braves infielder Austin Riley, among others. Mississippi State Director of Athletics Zac Selmon also was on hand to congratulate Slocum and provide encouraging words as he prepares for the USA Games.
The Southaven native graduated from Ļć½¶Ö±²„in 2023 with an ACCESS Program certificate of completion. is a four-year, residential, inclusive postsecondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also participated in the universityās Special Olympics Unified Program, which brings together Ļć½¶Ö±²„and ACCESS students through sports.
Slocum had been involved with Special Olympics since he was 8 years old, competing in various sports, but it wasnāt until his sophomore year of high school that he discovered a passion for powerlifting.
A torn ACL in 2016 put a pause on his training, but he was determined, worked his way back and received a bid to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Florida, where he brought home the overall gold medal for his division, as well as gold in bench press, deadlift and squat.
āSeth has exceeded our expectations and then some,ā said his mother, Trina Slocum. āMississippi State has helped him achieve a lot of his goals through Special Olympics, ACCESS and Unified. With his involvement in Special Olympics and what he learned in the ACCESS program, Seth has been able to be involved in activities that otherwise wouldnāt have been possible.ā
Slocum enjoyed his time at Ļć½¶Ö±²„and with Unified Sports so much that, after graduation, he found a job in Starkville, allowing him to stay in town and continue training weekly with his coaches while learning new skills.
āHis Ļć½¶Ö±²„coaches have accepted him for who he is and more. They go and pick him up, take him to church and call him on the phone. They genuinely love him and are his true friends,ā his mother added. āWe are just so appreciative of Mississippi State, the ACCESS program and the Special Olympics program. It has meant so much not only to Seth but to the people in the community who are able to be involved in it.ā
August Jones, a senior biochemistry/pre-medicine major from Bay Springs who serves as a certified personal trainerĀ and Unified weightlifting coach, is one of many working with Slocum. He said the powerlifter is not only a joy to train, but an inspiration to those around him.
āThe highlight of our week is training and being around Seth. He always brightens everyoneās day and is the hardest worker you will meet,ā Jones said. āSeth always has a smile on his face and a love for all things Mississippi State. We are extremely proud of him and all he has accomplished.
āWe are very excited for this upcoming year as we prepare for the 2026 USA Games. Seth is an incredible individual and inspires us every day,ā he added.
When asked what he is looking forward to most, Slocum said, āWinning gold for powerlifting and getting better and stronger.ā