This weekend a very special athlete will be inducted into the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame as the 2024 Special Olympics Inductee, and that athlete is none other than Robert Bodas of the Sacramento County Chargers!
Robert’s history as a Special Olympics athlete spans decades. He first joined the Sacramento County Chargers as a young man in 1984 and has been a loyal Charger ever since.
Throughout the years, Robert has participated in just about every sport imaginable, including soccer, floor hockey, golf, bocce, bowling, softball, track and field, swimming, and basketball, which is his favorite. He has accumulated hundreds of medals from hundreds of tournaments at the local, regional and state-level.
Today, Robert can be found at Special Olympics practices and tournaments, helping in any way that he can, from setting up goal posts, cleaning up at the end of the day, or cheering on his fellow Chargers. Robert is a one-of-a-kind Special Olympian that everyone loves. Often the first to arrive and the last to leave, Robert has been called the “heart and soul of the Chargers.”
Born to immigrant parents just a few months after they moved to the United States from Brazil, Robert and his twin brothers, Manuel and Jose, established deep roots in their hometown of Sacramento. Robert completed high school at Hiram Johnson High School and began his Special Olympics journey soon after. Through participation in Special Olympics, Robert met a young woman named Dorothy and before long, they started a family and had two children, Eric and Christina. Robert has been able to inspire Dorothy, Christina, Manuel and Jose to also compete in Special Olympics sports, and his son Eric is a certified Special Olympics coach.
When Robert is not on a field or court, he loves knitting clothing for others, telling stories and cooking for his family.
Those who know and love Robert have nothing but wonderful things to say about him. His Special Olympics coaches have expressed that Robert is the embodiment of a true teammate and the true spirit of Special Olympics. He is a leader both on and off the court and is always striving to do his best while encouraging others to do their best as well.
Robert is an exceptional human and ultimate exemplar of what the Special Olympics represents, and we are not at all surprised that he was chosen as the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame’s 2024 Special Olympics Inductee.
The Chargers are a sports training team based in Sacramento County that provides opportunities for training and competitions. Competitions are generally hosted by the Special Olympics or Very Inspirational People (V.I.P.).
The Chargers have been organized and coached by Therapeutic Recreation Services, a division of Sacramento County Regional Parks, and its volunteers since 1983. Joining a Chargers team can help participants reach their potential, make lifelong friendships, undergo new experiences, and learn new skills.