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Becky Saathoff, right, and her bocce coach, Staci Wunder, attend Becy's induction into the Kansas Special Olympics Hall of fame.

More than 20 years ago Becky Saathoff was among the founding athletes of Douglas County Special Olympics, along with just eight or nine others.

Now, at age 43, she has around 100 fellow Olympians and on Saturday achieved the dream of many an athlete: induction into the Hall of Fame.

“I’m excited!” she said, adding that she had “a great time” at the recent gala in Kansas City, Kansas, where she was one of five people named to the Kansas Special Olympics Hall of Fame as a 20-person entourage of dressed-up family and friends applauded. Becky had to stay mum about the honor for months, not publicizing it until after the ceremony.

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Becky Saathoff, center behind lectern, is pictured being inducted into the Kansas Special Olympics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

While she’s pumped about the trophy and recognition that came with the honor, she seems to value the sheer fun of sport way more than any personal glory that comes with it.

That’s perhaps why she hasn’t focused on a single sport but has embraced a wide range of activity: cornhole, bocce, basketball, cheerleading, swimming, track and field, snowshoeing, soccer “and, oh yeah, bowling,” she adds, admitting that she has likely left something out in her decades of competing.

Becky, the daughter of Sherrie and Larry Saathoff, of Lawrence, was chosen for the Hall of Fame both for her accomplishments and also for her dedication to the spirit of the Special Olympics.

Her accomplishments include winning first place on a bocce ball team at the USA Games in 2022 in Orlando, Florida. She also took fifth place in singles competition.

The victory was hard-earned, said Becky’s coach, Staci Wunder, of Topeka, noting that the four-person bocce team practiced religiously for well over a year before the national competition, honing their technique.

“It’s a pretty strategic game,” Wunder said, and “it was really fun to see Becky get down to business.”

“Becky likes to move fast,” she said. “She’s our speed thrower, getting in and getting it done,” not just as a matter of personal style but also so she can sit back and watch her teammates compete.

When asked what her favorite thing about competing is, Becky didn’t even stop to think: “Being together with your team,” she told the Journal-World. Her bocce team included Josh Alters and Rylee Robinson, both of Topeka, and Kiel Miller, of Wichita.

Long before Becky was a bocce champ, she distinguished herself at the first-ever USA Games in 2006 in Ames, Iowa, where she won two silver medals in swimming, one in the backstroke and one in the breaststroke.

In the intervening years, “she’s just about done every sport,” said her mom, Sherrie, and that’s in addition to working. Becky currently holds two jobs, one in the University of Kansas’ School of Education and one at Hilltop Child Development Center. She also has a Monday book club she’s devoted to, “reading with my friends.”

While Hall of Fame induction often comes in the twilight of a person’s career, that’s not true for Becky, who plans “to keep going.” Next up is basketball in January.

Becky admits that some activities, like track and field, are a little harder on her joints than they were 20 years ago, but that’s not such a big deal when you can still laugh and hang out with your teammates.

“She is so go-with-the-flow,” Wunder said. “Her spirit and attitude are just great.”

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Becky Saathoff is pictured competing in bocce ball at the 2022 USA Games in Orlando, Florida. Her team won the gold medal.

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Becky Saathoff is pictured at a snowshoeing competition.

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Becky Saathoff is pictured competing at a cornhole tournament.

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Becky Saathoff is pictured at a Special Olympics bowling tournament.

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Becky Saathoff displays a meal she won at a swimming competition.