Florida Tennis Athletes Bring Home Six Medals From 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Phoebus and Viplav capture gold in singles, Lanier/Phoebus claim silver in doubles at University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, MN., JUNE 30, 2026 — Four Florida tennis athletes returned home with six medals from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, including two gold and four silver, after a week of competition at the Baseline Tennis Center at the University of Minnesota.

Kiera Phoebus (Orlando) and Lizanne Viplav of (Lake City) both struck gold in singles play, while Garrett Lanier (St. Cloud) and Alexander Polodna (Oviedo) rounded out the medal haul with silver performances across singles and doubles.

Phoebus delivered the most decorated week for Team Florida, winning gold in Level 6 Singles and pairing with Lanier to take silver in Level 6 Open Doubles. Viplav matched her with a gold of her own in Level 4 Singles, sweeping both medal-round matches without dropping a set. Polodna earned silver in Level 5 Singles, and Lanier added silver in Level 5 Singles to go with his doubles silver.

The four athletes were part of a 73-player tennis field representing delegations from across the country. Florida was one of more than 25 states with athletes competing at Baseline Tennis Center from June 21-26.

Held every four years, the Special Olympics USA Games are the largest national multi-sport event of their kind, uniting thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities from all 50 states for a week of competition that showcases skill, courage, and dedication at the highest level. The 2026 Games in Minneapolis spanned more than a dozen sports across traditional and Unified formats, building on the legacy of the 2022 Games hosted in Orlando.

Tennis competition followed Special Olympics’ divisioning model, where athletes are grouped by skill after King of the Court play earlier in the week to ensure balanced and meaningful matches in the medal round. Phoebus and Lanier were placed from Level 5 to Level 6 in doubles after a dominant opening round, then earned silver against the strongest field in their bracket.

Overall, it was an unforgettable week for Team Florida, as all four tennis athletes earned their place on the podium and represented their state, their communities, and the sport of tennis with pride.

Florida Tennis Singles Results

• Gold Medal: Kiera Phoebus (Orlando), Level 6 Singles
• Gold Medal: Lizanne Viplav (Lake City), Level 4 Singles
• Silver Medal: Alexander Polodna (Oviedo), Level 5 Singles
• Silver Medal: Garrett Lanier (St. Cloud), Level 5 Singles

Florida Tennis Doubles Results

• Silver Medal: Garrett Lanier (St. Cloud) and Kiera Phoebus (Orlando), Level 6 Open Doubles
• Fourth Place: Alexander Polodna (Oviedo) and Lizanne Viplav (Lake City), Level 5 Open Doubles

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About USTA Florida: Established in 1949, USTA Florida is a not-for-profit section of the United States Tennis Association and the official governing body of tennis in Florida. With over 60 staff members operating from its executive office in Orlando and more than 700 volunteers throughout the state, USTA Florida is driving the future of the sport through three Big Bold Moves: investing in best-in-class public facilities and providers, leveraging data and insights to fuel smarter growth, and empowering volunteer leaders at every level. Together, these efforts advance the organization’s mission to promote and develop tennis for all in Florida. To learn more, visit www.USTAFlorida.com.

For more information, contact: Jaret Kappelman, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, USTA Florida: communications@ustaflorida.com.