Steven Eull has been involved in the Special Olympics for 33 years and continues to take part in a wide range of sports. He started competing as a child, when his team was small and offered only a few options, including track, cross country skiing, and swimming. Over time, the program has grown to include 130 athletes and 10 different sports. Steven now participates in all 10. 

Among those sports, golf stands out. Steven began golfing at age seven and has played for 15 to 20 years. He practices regularly with teammates, coaches, and family members, often at local courses or indoor facilities when the weather does not allow outdoor practice. “I like playing a game of golf and playing with my cousins,” he said.  

Steven is now preparing to compete in golf at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The Games are taking place in the Twin Cities metro from June 20 to June 26, 2026. This will be his second time attending, after competing in swimming at the first USA Games in 2006. “It’s awesome,” he said. “I am so excited.” 

Qualifying for the USA Games is a multi-step process. Athletes must first win a gold medal in their sport, then complete an application and interview. In Minnesota, about 8,000 athletes are eligible, and only 145 are selected. Steven earned his spot after winning a gold medal in 2025. He learned he was selected during a live announcement. “I saw my name pop up. I saw ‘Steven Eull’ on the screen and I said, ‘Wow, I’m going!’” 

At the USA Games, Steven will compete in individual golf skills, which include six areas: drive, iron, chip, pitch, long putt, and short putt. Athletes are scored based on distance and accuracy in each skill. He has been preparing by practicing with coaches and caddies, but during competition, he will compete on his own. 

For Steven, the experience is about more than results. “Good sportsmanship is the biggest thing, whether I win or not,” he said. “The most important thing is that I have fun.” He also wants to represent Team Minnesota well. “I like to be around other people and use my best manners, be happy, and be friendly.” 

Support from others has played an important role in his journey. Steven credits his family, coworkers, coaches, and teammates for encouraging him. His family is deeply involved in Special Olympics as coaches and unified partners, and they continue to be a major part of his experience. 

Outside of his involvement in the Special Olympics, Steven maintains a strong work routine. He works at Target in St. Paul, where he has been employed for 14 years. His role is to sort returned items and place them back on the correct shelves. He has also worked at Tareen Dermatology for nearly five years. Whether he’s cleaning, doing laundry, or folding clinic gowns, Steven takes pride in doing each task carefully and consistently as a self-described perfectionist. 

Steven has been supported in his employment for about 15 years, first through ESR and now through Rise. That support helps with employer communication and scheduling when needed, allowing him to continue succeeding at both jobs while preparing for the USA Games. 

At the center of everything Steven does is a simple focus. “The reason I do this is the fun.”