Murphy resident Erika Johnson is set to represent Texas at the 2025 Special Olympics in Turin, Italy, departing next week as part of the USA Delegation. Johnson, 37, is the only North Texas athlete competing in the international event, which takes place March 8-17.

Johnson, a lifelong Murphy resident and 2006 Wylie High School graduate, has been competing in Special Olympics since high school. She was selected in 2023 for the Special Olympics Texas women’s floorball team, which later earned an invitation to join the USA Delegation. The team participated in trials in Utah in April 2024 before securing its spot in the competition.

“Erika is the only one from the North Texas area,” said her mother, Kim Johnson.

The women’s floorball team, consisting of eight athletes and two coaches, is the only group from Texas in the delegation, which includes around 200 people, according to Kim.

In preparation for the trip, the team is working to raise $30,000 to cover a portion of its expenses. Fundraising efforts have surpassed $15,000, but donations are still being accepted. Contributions can be mailed to Special Olympics coach Marty Smith at 5704 Southampton Drive, Richardson, TX 75082, or dropped off at the Wylie Chamber of Commerce https://www.wyliechamber.org/ Additionally, there is an online fundraiser for those who prefer that option. https://www.classy.org/team/570394

Johnson, who works part-time at AMC Theatre in Firewheel, has participated in numerous Special Olympics sports, including basketball, volleyball, bowling, soccer, flag football, golf, pickleball and TopGolf. In 2022, she competed in the Special Olympics USA Games in golf and was previously part of the FC Dallas Unified Soccer team. She was named the Special Olympics Dallas Area Female Athlete of the Year in 2016.

Last year, Johnson helped make TopGolf an official Special Olympics medal event.

“She gave a speech and signed the official document along with the CEO of TopGolf and the SO Director of International Competition,” Kim said.

Johnson will meet her team in San Antonio before flying to New York, where the full USA Delegation will gather before departing for Italy on Thursday, March 6.

For more information on the 2025 Special Olympics, visit Turin2025.org.