Special Olympian Tommy Shimoda was celebrated as the first athlete with an intellectual disability to receive the Order of Lincoln, the state’s highest honor “for professional achievement and public service.”

“We all play sports and work hard to be able to compete,” Shimoda said.

The 29-year-old Chicagoan, who is not verbal, shared his message using a device during the Chicago History Museum ceremony on Saturday night.

“Now that I have the Lincoln Laureate Award I think you know I work really hard to be good at the sport and to help my friends. Thank you Lincoln Academy. I will do my best,” Shimoda said.

Shimoda was diagnosed with autism as a child and has been a Special Olympics athlete for over 20 years. Along the way, he won gold in speed skating at the 2017 World Winter Games in Austria. He is also an honorary recipient of ESPY and inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.

“Absolutely clarifies and reinforces the idea that we are all special,” said Anne Burke of the Illinois Supreme Court.

“It’s one day at a time and he’s still working hard and you like a challenge, right?” asked Shimoda’s mother, Barbara De Kerf.

De Kerf said his son was thrilled to be among the leaders in medicine, the military, music, architecture and beyond.

“He found the sport and the sport really gave him his voice. It gave him an outlet for all his energy. And when the coaches asked him to do something, it was like okay, I can do it. And so I think it gave him a nice incentive to keep moving forward and moving forward, ”De Kerf said.

He now also gives back as a mentor to young athletes.

“I want the little campers to go to the World Games too,” Shimoda said.

“He truly is an amazing athlete. But better than that, he is an amazing person, teammate and community member,” Carolyn Daley, Chair of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Chicago / Special Children’s Charities.

Shimoda overcomes adversity and paves the way for inclusion as a Lincoln Laureate.