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The City of Sugar Land awarded Special Olympics athlete Derek "Tank" Schottle a Certificate of Recognition for his 20 years competing and his embodiment of the Special Olympics' message.
Schottle, 32, of Sugar Land, competes yearly with the Special Olympics in softball, basketball, bocce, volleyball, track, golf and soccer, the Fort Bend Star reported.
"Since I received Certificate of Recognition from the City of Sugar Land it's hard to put in words how much I appreciate for the love and support for everyone I know. I work hard everyday to spread love and hope and inspire everyone that anything is possible. I love you," Schottle wrote in a tweet.
Once described as a quiet, lacking confidence to stick up for himself and was too kindhearted kid who towered over the other kids, hence the nickname "Tank," Special Olympics helped transform him into the confident leader and inspiration he is known as today.
“I love to spread love and hope for our country and our world,” Tank said, as reported by AP News. “We should all love one another and bring hope and inspiration to other people.”
Throughout his 20 years participating in the Special Olympics, Tank's confidence and self-assurance has soared, AP News reported. While he was once bullied, did not have many friends and lack social skills, he has become a voice for thousands in the Houston area and beyond.
According to AP News, Tank even took to social media with daily affirmations and messages of hope and love to his more than 100,000 followers during the pandemic, a huge change from the once shy kid who once kept his head to the ground.
Tank has become the living embodiment of the Special Olympics' message and has received local and national awards for being an advocate for Special Olympics and anti-bullying gives regular speeches about love and hope.
His message of love, acceptance and hope has not stopped there. Tank has been featured on CNN, other news outlets including on TV and in news articles. Tank has even attracted the attention of celebrities like former NBA player Rex Chapman, NFL player J.J. Watt, Mark Hamill, Marlee Matlin, Maureen McCormick and Rachel Maddow, AP News reports. Mayors of Charlotte, North Carolina and Concord, Massachusetts declared Dec. 12 and 13 Derek “Tank” Schottle Day when he received awards there as well, AP News reported.
Special Olympics Texas has more than 8,000 athletes registered in the Houston area alone, with more than 15,000 registered athletes across the region. For more information about Special Olympics Texas or to make a donation to the organization, visit sotx.org.