Special Olympian gets a special honor

The Finish Line, inside the mall in Brandon donated a pair of sleek new blue running shoes to Special Olympian William Corsi.  He'll lace them up when he runs in the upcoming Law Enforcement Torch Run at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

"Feels very exciting I love doing it," said Corsi.

"This is huge because this is the epitome of the highest competition we do," said Glenn Fite Jr., with Special Olympics Florida.

William is one of only ten people in the country chosen for the run. He's the first and only athlete ever chosen for the honor from Florida.  He's put in months of training.
    
"He'll be running many miles every day. He'll be running a couple miles a day, up to more than eight miles a day," said Fite.

William isn't expecting it to be easy. "Keep on going, don't give up," he said.

"To me William epitomizes what a special Olympic athlete is all about with his drive his perseverance," said Fite.

William Corsi has been an athlete for more than 15 years. He actually appeared as a young child with his brothers on FOX 13 in 1986 when he was part of the station's Wednesday's Child segment.  It led his would-be parents to adopt him and his two brothers.
    
His dad says this run is a dream come true.

"He's come full circle. He's always wanted to be in the world games and this gives him the opportunity," said Michael Corsi.

And he'll be flying in those blue shoes like a blur.