State Games of Mississippi Swimmer Named National Adult Athlete of Year
MERIDIAN, MS – State Games of Mississippi swimmer Jaycelyn “Jaycie” Collins has been named the National Congress of State Games Adult Athlete of the Year. Meridianite Jaycie achieved this honor after being named the 2024 Ochsner Rush Health Female Athlete of the Year in a recent ceremony here.
The National Congress of State Games (NCSG) is an American nonprofit sports association, consisting of 27 full members divided into three regions, of which the State Games of Mississippi is member. As of 2023, NCSG members run 26 Summer Games and a number of winter games The NCSG is part of the United States Olympic Committee and organizes the State Games of America, an Olympic-style multi-sport event in which athletes who have won a medal in their home state’s Games are eligible to compete.
“We are so excited that one our own, Jaycie, has been selected as a national Athlete of the Year,” said Missye Dozier, Executive Director of the Games. “Jaycie embodies the spirit of our competitions and brings wonderful recognition to herself and our state.”
Jacelyn “Jaycie” Collins
Meridianite Jaycie Collins is a gold-medal swimmer who wins in many events at the age of 31. A State Games of Mississippi participant for two years, Jaycie took home five gold medals in 2023 and 2024 in freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley.
“I am a Down Syndrome athlete,” Jaycie said. “I am short, I have limited arm span, my legs are not terribly long but I love to swim and have learned to use what God created to win in swimming.”
Outside of State Games, Jaycie participates in the Mississippi Special Olympics. She was a Mississippi Swim Team Delegate to the National Special Olympics in Seattle, Washington in 2018 and a Mississippi Swim Team Delegate to the National Special Olympics in Orlando, Florida in 2022.
The State Games of Mississippi hosted more than 5,000 amateur athletes in 40 sports in 2024.
About the State Games of Mississippi
The State Games of Mississippi is now in its 33rd year offering top-level competition for Mississippi’s amateur athletes in more than 40 sports.
The Games kick off with an exciting Opening Ceremony in downtown Meridian, complete with the parade of athletes, lighting of the State Games flame and fireworks.
The State Games of Mississippi offers top-level competition for Mississippi’s amateur athletes. The State Games of Mississippi keeps its entry fees low primarily through the generous donations of sponsors, including Founding Gold Sponsors: Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Ochsner Rush Hospital; and Gold Sponsors: BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi, Paul & Sherry Broadhead Foundation, Meridian Community College, the City of Meridian, Pearl River Resort, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, VisitMeridian.com, WTOK-TV, The Meridian Star and WMDN/WGBC-TV (The Meridian Family of Stations). For more information on the Games, call 601-482-0205 or visit the State Games of Mississippi website at StateGamesofMS.org.