Discipline, Determination, and the Belief That Anything Is Possible
My name is Benny Langlois, and I’m running to prove that no label can define how far you can go.
I’m from Keene, New Hampshire, and I participate with Keene Parks & Recreation through Special Olympics New Hampshire. I compete in basketball and softball, two of my favorite sports, and I’d love to try soccer in the future. Outside of sports, I stay busy working hard every day. I drive students to school with Thomas Transportation, and I also work at Hannaford on the front end, where I cashier, bag groceries, and push carts. Showing up, putting in the work, and staying disciplined matters to me, both on and off the field.
Athletically, I set big goals for myself. One of my biggest goals is to become the first Special Olympics athlete to complete a half marathon and a full marathon back to back. This run is part of that journey, along with a coast challenge I’m taking on in early May. Every challenge builds toward the next one, and I’m always looking for ways to push myself further.
The people who inspire me most are David Goggins and Kobe Bryant. Their work ethic, discipline, and relentless commitment to improvement motivate me to keep going, even when things get hard. People often describe me as determined, ambitious, and hardworking, and those qualities drive how I train, how I work, and how I live.
One skill I’ve worked especially hard to improve is confidence and stress management. Things don’t always go my way, but I’ve learned to focus on what will go right instead of what could go wrong. When challenges come up, I work through them, make decisions based on what I see, and keep moving forward. That mindset has made a huge difference for me.
If I could give advice to someone new to Special Olympics, it would be this: always be open-minded and always be willing to put in the work. Rely on discipline, because that will get you far in life. You never know what opportunities may come your way if you stay committed.
Most of all, I want people to know that even if you have a disability or are labeled as different, you can still make it very far in life. Don’t let anyone define who you are. You can accomplish greatness no matter where you’re at. I’ve learned that through sports, through work, and through life.
Outside of training, I enjoy traveling to see long-distance friends, hiking, and taking in cool scenery along the way. Those moments remind me why the journey matters just as much as the destination.
Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting athletes like me as we keep chasing big goals, one disciplined mile at a time.
