Crestview man, special Olympics athlete aims to inspire with fitness

CRESTVIEW, Fla. — One Crestview man trains for Florida’s special Olympic state games while helping others in the process.

Shane Kamm has a lot of achievements to be proud of.

“I graduated from Pensacola State College. I’m the first one out of the family to graduate,” he said.

He’s a local special Olympian who’s competed in several events in the past. Basketball is one of his favorites.

He was even awarded Florida’s Special Olympics Athlete of the Year in 2022.

“When I got on stage, I was a little nervous,” Kamm said. “But I think I got a little help from my mom and dad and I thank god for that.”

Now as he trains for another special Olympics, he’s also working at a local Planet Fitness, encouraging others in their fitness journeys.

“They’ll talk fitness, everything back and forth, to tips to kind of bantering back and forth of ‘You know you can lift heavier come on,” Kamm’s job coach Brennan Wilson said.

“I tell them they’re doing a good job, they’re working out, staying active like I am,” Kamm said.

His co-workers say Kamm is the bright spot of the day for them and the gymgoers. He pushes himself, and others, to be the best they can be.

“He’s always out on the floor cleaning something and interacting with members, making sure he’s motivating them as much as they motivate him to be in the gym,” said Sophia Quesenberry, Planet Fitness manager.

“It’s just the reminder of don’t settle,” Wilson said. “Don’t just take life as it is and just get through it. Shane looks to get the most out of his life and I think that’s an encouragement for anybody.”

But whether it’s in the gym or on the court, what’s most memorable about Kamm is how he plays the game.

“When we talk about sports, special Olympics, fitness, and just his interactions with people, Shane has such a good sense of sportsmanship,” Wilson said. “A lot of our conversations he’s said, ‘I go out there and I just give my best. Even if I don’t win I wanna go out there and be the best I can and at the same time be respectful and kind to the other people around me because they’re another human being.'”

Kamm is preparing to compete in basketball in the special Olympics. Training and competitions for it begins again in January.