Jason Klaus
Local / Community
Victoria
When and how did you get involved with Special Olympics?
I got involved with Special Olympics in 2019. I had coached and competed in powerlifting since 2015. One of my clients was out to breakfast one day and Dennis (my future powerlifting star) was working at the restaurant. Dennis approached my client because he was a big powerlifter and told him he wanted to work out and be strong like him. He said if you want to be strong like me, you need to meet my coach. Through coaching Dennis and seeing his success, I decided to get involved with SO powerlifting to give other athletes the opportunity to try powerlifting. We now have one of the strongest powerlifting teams in Canada and we can thank Dennis for that.
Will this be your first Special Olympics Canada Games? If not, what other National Games were you part of and in what role(s)?
This will be my first Special Olympics National Games. I have taken our team to the Western Championships once and Nationals twice in our Canadian Powerlifting Federation (Canada Powerlifting/CanPL).
What does being part of Special Olympics Team BC 2026 mean to you?
Being part of Team BC means I can share my ten years of high-level competitive powerlifting and coaching expertise with the athletes and other coaches. I am also a certified provincial referee in the powerlifting federation we compete in. I know we will have an advantage with my deep understanding of the sport and rules we follow. I am excited to take my experience coaching and supporting Special Olympics athletes to a higher level.
What is/are your goal(s) for National Games?
My goals for Team BC at the 2026 National Games are to encourage our athletes to perform at their best emotionally and physically. I want everyone to take home one of the best competitive experiences of their lives home with them.
What is your favourite Special Olympics experience to date?
My favourite Special Olympics experience is actually quite recent. Watching Dennis receive the Best Lifter award at the 2025 Western Canadian Championships was pretty special.
What does competing at National Games mean to your athletes? (Or, if this is your first National Games, competition in general)
My athletes are excited for the opportunity to represent Team BC on this National platform. Displaying their hard work and dedication on the platform is what powerlifting is all about.
What developments are you excited to see in your Team BC sport team leading up to National Games?
I’m looking forward to the team developing friendships and experiencing different coaching strategies.
What would you say about Special Olympics to encourage someone to get involved?
To encourage someone to start Special Olympics one must experience it first hand. Go to a team practice and meet the athletes and coaches of your favourite sport. If you have passion for a sport Special Olympics is a way you can share your passion with other people and watch it grow inside them.