Congrats to Kason Kolka, Gymnast for Florida at the Special Olympics 2022

The IMPACT Tallahassee team gathered early Friday morning to wish Kason Kolka luck as he heads off to Orlando to participate in the 2022 Special Olympics, happening at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex at Disney this week. An Academy student, Kason is one of the few gymnasts selected to represent Florida at the National Special Olympics, also known as the USA Games.

Like many before him, Kason was inspired to try gymnastics to be like his older brother. Through an established program at local Tallahassee gym, Gym Force, Kason began working with coaches Nikolai Korepanov and Jim Hisley around 2014/2015 and has since participated in local area games and at the state games yearly.

“Kason is a prime example of why we do what we do here at IMPACT. We work hard to ensure students of all abilities receive the support, education, training, and therapies to become independent, thriving members of their local community,” said IMPACT CEO (and Kason’s father!) Kevin Kolka. “Kason’s worked incredibly hard to achieve all he has within his gymnastics training and the entire IMPACT team is proud of him.”

Kason currently attends IMPACT Academy and is working towards gaining the necessary workforce training and social and educational skills that will allow him to become an independent assistant teacher within IMPACT Academy.

He will participate in all six of the gymnastics events at this year’s Special Olympics, a week long event with more than 5,500 athletes from all 50 states participating. He will be supported by his parents, Kevin and Stacey Kolka, and his siblings, Kayla, Karson, and Kade.


Update, June 9th: Congratulations are in order — Kason placed 4th on the pommel horse and earned gold both on the floor and on rings! The IMPACT team remains incredibly proud of not only Kason, but all of the Olympians down in Orlando this week.

Update, June 10th: The wins continue! Kason won gold on the parallel bars and on the high bar, as well as a bronze medal for vault. We are so proud of Kason and all that he and his team accomplished this week.

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Lawrence Mvrica
IMPACT Foundation Board Member
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