Chasing Gold, Building Confidence, and Giving Back

Meet Team NH Athlete Nicklas Paquin

May 27, 2026

When Team NH heads to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games this June, bowling athlete Nicklas Paquin will be carrying more than a bowling ball onto the national stage.

He’ll be carrying years of hard work, friendships, confidence, and a dream that started back in middle school when he first heard about Special Olympics New Hampshire.

Today, Nick competes in bowling, basketball, and bocce, but it’s the lessons learned through sport that have shaped him the most.

“I have learned to work as a team and to have confidence in myself,” Nick shared. “It has helped me in learning to help each other and to never give up.”

That mindset shows up everywhere in Nick’s life.

At practice, he’s focused on improving and listening closely to his coaches. In competition, he loves the challenge and the thrill of earning medals, especially gold. One of his favorite memories came earlier this year when the Manchester Mustangs basketball team captured gold after a season of hard work and determination.

Off the court and lanes, Nick works at Lowe’s in the Garden Center, where he helps customers, waters plants, and loads cars. He also volunteers at Joppa Hill Farm and spends time each week volunteering with the Goffstown Fire Department, fueled by a long-term goal of someday becoming a firefighter.

That spirit of service is part of what makes Team NH so special.

Nick says some of the people who have impacted him most along the way are his coaches, teammates, family members, and bowling volunteers from the Manchester Alley Cats. Through Special Olympics, he’s built lasting friendships and found a community that pushes each other to improve, compete, and succeed together.

“Just being around my friends and cheering them on makes me smile,” he said.

In just a few weeks, Nick will travel to Minneapolis alongside the rest of Team NH’s delegation to compete at the Special Olympics USA Games alongside athletes from across the country. For athletes like Nick, the Games represent more than competition. They’re the reward for years of training, dedication, teamwork, and perseverance.

And supporters across New Hampshire can be part of that journey.

Whether you sponsor an athlete, support a team, help cover transportation or equipment costs, or make a donation to an athlete’s fundraising efforts, every contribution helps Team NH athletes step onto the national stage prepared, confident, and ready to compete.

Because athletes like Nick aren’t just chasing medals.

They’re building confidence, creating lifelong friendships, giving back to their communities, and proving what’s possible every single day.

To support Team NH and help send athletes like Nicklas to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, visit the link below.