O'Grady (30), who works for the YMCA after-school and holiday programmes in Hamilton, is a global messenger for the sport.
Her work impressed the executives of Special Olympics and she was recruited to the New Zealand Board of Trustees for the sport.
''I've been on the board for a year and I've loved it,'' she said.
''I speak up for the athletes and make sure they enjoy themselves and have fun.''
O'Grady is also a talented swimmer and was a convincing winner of the division 1 100m breaststroke in 2min 21.17sec at Moana Pool last week.
She also won a silver medal in her division of the 100m freestyle in 1min 46.86sec.
At Palmerston North four years ago, O'Grady won a silver and bronze medal in swimming.
She specialised in equestrian when she first joined Special Olympics seven years ago.
Her crowning achievement came in 2007 when she won a gold medal in the dressage at a world Special Olympics event in China.
''I like competing and always try to do my best,'' O'Grady said.
''But no matter what, I'm always happy because I get to meet my friends again.''
Valerie Emett is one of the 10 coaches in the 46 strong Waikato team.
She has been involved with Special Olympics since 1982 and has coached swimming for the last 18 years.
''I enjoy working with the swimmers and am always pleased to see what they get out of it,'' Emett said.
''I get just as excited as they do when they do well. They are a happy crew.''
The eight Waikato swimmers won nine gold medals at the Summer Games.
