Jennifer Carlson

Glastonbury, CT

Jennifer “Jen” Carlson is an athlete from Glastonbury who will compete in bowling at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Jen is 47 years old and has worked at Ted’s IGA in Hebron as a cashier since 2007. Jen has been involved in Special Olympics as a member of the Glastonbury team since 1993 and has participated in croquet, snowshoeing, and track and field in addition to bowling. She is also proud to be a Special Olympics Connecticut Global Messenger - an ambassador and spokesperson for Special Olympics Connecticut. 

“Special Olympics has changed my life for the better because I otherwise wouldn’t be participating in sports and have friends,” says Jen. Jen says that her entire social life revolves around her Special Olympics friends and mentors. 

Jen is most proud of becoming a Global Messenger and receiving the Special Olympics Connecticut Spirit of Life Award.

Jen graduated from Regional Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough (RHAM) High School in Hebron. She’s currently a member of the Marlborough Congregational Church and its women’s group which does outreach projects that benefit people in need. Jen has a photographic memory - and has a gift for recalling dates, names, addresses, and phone numbers!

Jen is looking forward to going to the USA Games to represent Connecticut and meet people from across the country.