Breaking Barriers Written by: Kaylee Kopke Photography by: Eric Vinson
Julie Doss is an adult Special Olympian who lives in Lake Park, Georgia. She was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome at an early age. Her mom, Jeanie Doss Allen, said she would always see Doss doing perfect cartwheels for fun when she was younger, which prompted her to put Doss in a regular gymnastics program at the age of 7. Immediately, Doss’s then coach saw that she had talent and potential within the sport. But there were times when, according to Allen, Doss had some trouble with certain apparatuses. Allen and Doss’s coach knew she could get far, especially being so young at the time. At the age of 12, Doss won first place in a regular meet in all four apparatuses, which are the beam, bars, floor, and vault. Shortly after that, Doss made the decision to take a step back from gymnastics to pursue dancing throughout her high school career. After graduating high school, Doss and her family moved to Lake Park, Georgia, when she was 22 years old. After a 10-year hiatus, her gymnastics career really took off. Thanks to the help 48 | itgnext.com
of Jane Walsh from the and made everyone Valdosta YMCA, Doss proud by going to the got started again in the Games.” She won first in vault sport, and she picked up right where she left off. and second in the othShe learned new things er three apparatuses. quickly, and she put in ESPN featured her as a backdrop the work required to be “Seeing all the love that throughout recognized she was receiving, she that week by the World pushed through these when the Games. She obstacles and made ev- games were was one of eryone proud by going going on. to the Games.” According two people from — Jeanie Doss Allen to Allen, that the state was the exof Georgia to go to the perience of a lifetime for 2015 World Games in Los Doss. Angeles, California. Doss’s next compeThe road to the tition will be in January Games wasn’t easy for the Georgia Winter for Doss. A couple of Games as well as swimmonths before she was ming in the Summer set to compete, she had Games and bowling to undergo a surgery, in the Fall Games. Not the aftermath of which only is she an avid athcaused serious health lete, but she also likes to complications for Doss. horseback ride during “Even though she her free time, something faced many setbacks that has become a big before her appearance part of her life. at the Games with health Doss’s story just goes complications and sur- to show that with courgeries, many people age and perseverance wrote to her after being there are no goals that inspired by her story you cannot accomplish, through a newspaper ar- no obstacles that you ticle that was written on cannot overcome. That, her,” Allen said. “They all combined with the love rallied together and sent and support from family, her letters and words of friends, and the comencouragement. Seeing munity, can give you the all the love that she was extra boost to shine and receiving, she pushed achieve your greatest through these obstacles potential.
