Special Brevard Olympian Dylan May surfs to gold at summer games
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Dylan May has loved the water and the outdoors since he was an infant.
Despite his early arrival fifteen years ago this month, on September 12, and a diagnosis just after his birth as being autistic with intellectual disabilities, the 8th grader has become a fierce competitor in recent years.
Dylan, who has been competing in multiple sports for Special Olympics for the past seven years, taught himself to swim as a toddler and loves surfing, bicycling, tennis, paddle boarding, tennis, running – pretty much anything that is outdoors.
Just four years after learning to surf and getting involved with Brevard’s Surfers for Autism, he claimed a gold medal at the inaugural surfing competition held this past June during the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games held at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon wave venue.
He placed first out of 5 in his Level 2 group, which was paired according to experience and skill levels. Among competitors that participated were those 14 to 30 years of age.
“I love to pop up on a surfboard and go fast on the waves,” he replied when asked what he loves about the sport.
Dylan has become quite an inspiration to the coaches and volunteers who have met him and watched his progress during many Special Olympic events he has participated in throughout Brevard.
“It’s a pleasure and honor to work with all of these kids, and Dylan is one that I look forward to coaching and seeing at the beach,” said Missy Barley, a volunteer with the Special Olympics Brevard chapter surfing group that meets at Lori Wilson and surrounding Cocoa Beach area breaks weekly during the spring and summer months.
“He is a true inspiration for newcomers and is always up for the challenges each wave brings.”
“Always smiling, Dylan can sometimes be fearless, admits his mother,” Mary Truesdell.
“His love for doing anything that involves a thrill or challenge is always apparent to others, I am told.”
“He loves to travel, and is particularly good with maps, and is often my navigator to get where we are going.”
At the top of his list of fun activities he enjoys is riding rollercoasters.
“They are fun, you get air time and they are fast and thrilling,” says Dylan. His favorite rollercoasters are the Mako, at SeaWorld, and the Mindblower, at the Funspot in Orlando.
“He always wants to share his experiences with his classmates about rollercoasters,” she said.
Aside from his accolades in Special Olympics surfing, Dylan was the recipient of a gold medal last May in a 5k running event, and won a silver medal in a 10k bike race at a state wide competition in 2021. His other accomplishments include awards in tennis, swimming since he began competing in the Brevard Special Olympic sporting events at the age of eight.
Always up for a challenge and participating in new sports he also enjoys going to his middle school, Access Charter School in Orange County (Orlando), a special school for autism. Dylan loves learning all new subjects, and is especially fond of science class. He loves doing science experiments, and looks forward to participating in the hands-on aspects of the classes.
His love for camping has also been a favorite activity to do with his family, and according to Mom, he is especially good at helping start the campfires.
“Dylan is a very easy going teenager, and has yet to meet anyone that hasn’t enjoyed having him around,” she said.
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