George Kittle and Anquan Boldin surprised a Special Olympics athlete and NFL reporter Malcom Harris-Gowdie with an incredible opportunity.
Super Bowl week tends to be a magical one, and it was especially so for Special Olympics athlete and reporter Malcom Harris-Gowdie. Harris-Gowdie was on-site in Glendale, Arizona throughout the week reporting on behalf of the Special Olympics and FanSided, who put forth the first unified reporting team in Super Bowl history.
Harris-Gowdie is an experienced reporter having worked for his local CBS news station as a special correspondent serving as a guest announcer for the Mets minor league affiliate in St. Lucie and has been honored at the ESPYS. He had the opportunity this week to interview some of the NFL world’s best athletes and personalities.
Harris-Gowdie, a big 49ers fan, got surprised at the start of the week with a call from Niners tight end George Kittle. The two talked shop and made predictions for the game, and Harris-Gowdie got to ask him about what he had planned for the offseason over a video call.
Harris-Gowdie got to meet Kittle later in the week in person at radio row.
Anquan Boldin gave Malcom Harris-Gowdie the news of a lifetime
That was just the start of the fun for Harris-Gowdie this week, though. Just a bit later, he got to speak with Anquan Boldin, who delivered some awesome news to him.
“I want to let you know that you’ll be making history as well. You’ll be the first Special Olympics athlete to go to the big game as a reporter. So congratulations to you,” Boldin told him.
Harris-Gowdie was, as you might expect, elated and honored.
“This is surreal. I mean, as a reporter, this is, this is just my dreams coming to fruition, and I just can’t thank you guys enough for what you guys have done for me as a Special Olympian you know with these opportunities. Thank you to FanSided, thank you to everybody in Special Olympics headquarters and all you guys just having faith and believing in me, without you guys I wouldn’t be here,” Harris-Gowdie went on to say about the opportunity.
At the game on Sunday, Harris-Gowdie got to ask Patrick Mahomes a question about what made the difference for the Chiefs coming back in the second half of the game.
Malcom’s work interviewing throughout the week helped raise awareness of the importance of inclusion.