It’s championship season, and there are no days off for those with medals on the mind.

“We convinced our older brother Hector to take us out to the soccer field and the basketball court so that we can practice even more so that we can get better,” said Jayden.

In between baskets, he’s balling with his brother, Bryce, as they train for the Special Olympics, an international organization that involves 5.5 million athletes, with or without intellectual disabilities.

On Saturday, 100 athletes will compete in Middletown’s Presidential Park Elementary School for hardware that makes them feel on top of the world.

“So I’ve done it once before, and I got a gold medal for soccer and silver medal for basketball. They’re like trophies to me,” said Bryce.

“When they get to explain how they earn those medals in ribbons, that's really what makes me excited, because they get to explain it to their friends,” said Coach Chris Conklin, who began the Middletown school district’s program seven years ago. “Why do they have it? Why are they wearing it? How did they earn it? And that is such an awesome moment for me as their coach, as building up in all the hard work that goes on to get them to that moment. That’s what I love.”

The Enlarged Central School District of Middletown is hosting this year’s state competition at Presidential Park Elementary School.

Conklin began the program with a team of just five students that has now grown to almost 50 and is the largest in the state. Not only is it more people, but it’s also more accessibility.

“We are having things we’ve never had before. Between the number of participants, schools … we’re gonna have sensory rooms for kids; we’ll have livestreams for kids in other rooms so teams can watch it,” said Conklin.

The mission of the Special Olympics is to empower every athlete, no matter their intellectual ability. Its footprint has grown to 193 countries, with 5.5 million athletes competing.

Alazar is a new face to the growing movement.

“When I heard about it, I was like ‘mom, can you get the papers? Can you sign this now?’ Because I was so excited for it,” said Alazar.