When Kenly Wood first came to Train 4 Life™, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be there.
“Coming here all the time, I didn’t want to do it the first time,” she said. “But I did it. I keep coming back because it’s fun.”
Now, one year later, she credits the program for helping her grow stronger both physically and mentally, improvements that have carried over into her competitions.
“It has helped me with basketball and swimming. It improved my skills because my legs got stronger and I can run better,” Wood said. “Train 4 Life has made me more confident in playing my sports.”
She will carry that confidence to the 2026 USA Games, where she will represent Team Tennessee in swimming.
Special Olympics Tennessee is currently in the first of three Train 4 Life™ cycles scheduled for 2026. One Tennessee program is held at D1 Training Cool Springs in Franklin, where 35 athletes train over twelve weeks to improve their strength, speed, and agility, enhancing their sports performance and overall health.
For Brittany Meyer, the impact has been just as noticeable.
“I’ve been getting a lot stronger now because I’ve been doing a lot of weights here,” Meyer said.
She also shared how D1 and its coaches have supported her growth.
“D1 has helped me a lot… Coach Santi is amazing. He’s seen how much improved I was and how much weight I lost while doing this class.”
Her progress led to her being selected as a spokesperson for D1, something she said she is proud of.
Beyond physical strength, both athletes have achieved new feats through consistency and hard work. Meyer said squats have become her favorite exercise and are now easy for her to do. Wood enjoys sled pulls and can now do push-ups, something she once struggled with.
More than anything, the environment keeps them coming back.
“It makes me feel happy,” Wood said about training alongside the other athletes.
Meyer agreed. “I love training with everybody around here… I just like being here with all my friends.”
For anyone considering joining Train 4 Life™, their advice is simple.
“Don’t worry. The people here are really good,” Wood said.
Learn More About The Athletes!
Brittany Meyer
- Hometown: Davidson County
- Time spent with Special Olympics: A long time
- Favorite Exercise: Squats
Kenly Wood
- Hometown: Williamson County
- Time spent with Special Olympics: 8 years
- Favorite Exercise: Sled pulls
- Sports: Swimming, Basketball, Cheer
- Favorite Song Before Competing: “Take Down” by KPop Demon Hunters
