R-O-D Siblings Share Fond Memories of Bowling at USA Games

Alex and Abby Kieffer love bowling. They love representing Special Olympics Indiana. And, of course, they love each other.

The brother and sister from R-O-D County have been selected twice to bowl at USA Games, first in 2018 and again in 2022. With Alex attending as an athlete and Abby as his Unified partner,  being together on that stage made the experience even more special.

“When I was little, I was so excited for the day I was told I could bowl with him,” Abby said. “I wish every athlete could experience it. The competition was not only an amazing experience, but the atmosphere and environment were awesome, too.”

The 2018 Games sent the Kieffers to Seattle, and 2022’s destination was Orlando as part of the Special Olympics Indiana Unified Bowling team.

“My favorite part of USA Games is meeting people from different states and trading pins with them,” Alex said.

Abby’s favorite memory is family night at Animal Kingdom.

Outside of the lanes, the Kieffers spent time with supporters from the R-O-D delegation and other Team Indiana members. It was fun for all involved.

Abby said traveling and competing at a national level with her brother made them even closer. It also opened the door to friendships with lots of new people.

“Some of our favorite memories are from USA Games,” Abby said. “It’s important to work hard. There’s a lot that goes into being a Team Indiana athlete, and that starts before even becoming one.”

The Kieffers have been Unified Bowling partners for 10 years. They also participate in volleyball and snowboarding. They hope to continue competing together for as long as they can.

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Nominations for bowling and other sports are under way for the 2026 Team Indiana that will compete in Minneapolis during the USA Games. County coordinators can visit this page and fill out a form to nominate athletes or teams from their programs.