At the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Los Angeles on Saturday night, Jamaal Charles initiated proceedings with a touching story about his own struggles with a learning disability.

The Kansas City Chiefs running back said he felt helpless as a young kid, but once he competed and won a gold medal in track and field at the Special Olympics, it gave him a newfound bout of confidence.

“I was afraid. I was lost. I had trouble reading. I found out I had a learning disability. People made fun of me. They said I would never go anywhere. But I learned I can fly. When I was 10 years I had the chance to compete in the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics gave me my first chance to discover a talent I did not know I had.”