Shameera Rosal has been a fish since birth, her mother says.

The 21-year-old Lake Country resident took home a silver medal last week in her 50-metre freestyle swimming competition during the 2018 Special Olympics National Summer Games.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kinda like my therapy,91裸聊视频� Shameera said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not only my physical therapy, it91裸聊视频檚 my mental and emotional therapy in a way. It makes me feel good.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淚 definitely feel very free, like I can do anything,91裸聊视频� she said.

READ MORE: Shuswap Special Olympians take their place atop podium

Born with mobility issues due to a chromosome abnormality, her mother, Assunta Rosal, said she began swimming at a few months old.

91裸聊视频淭he water has been her haven, her passion, her place to be normal and included and part of things,91裸聊视频� Assunta said.

The family often went swimming in Okanagan Lake.

91裸聊视频淲hen she was little, like three or four years old, she would do these dives and people on the side of the beach asking 91裸聊视频榠s she OK? Is she coming up?91裸聊视频� They couldn91裸聊视频檛 believe how long she could stay underwater. She91裸聊视频檚 been a swimmer since pretty much day one,91裸聊视频� she said.

Shameera has been a part of Team Canada, with other Kelowna swimmers, since she was eight years old. She swims in Kelowna four days a week, and trains in other areas using weights and a stationary bike.

Her efforts paid off at this year91裸聊视频檚 summer games.

91裸聊视频淚t feels great to win at least one medal,91裸聊视频� she said, and she plans to keep a rigorous training schedule to eventually compete at the Special Olympics World Games.

Despite the pressure at nationals, Shameera said she wasn91裸聊视频檛 nervous. More than 1,000 athletes competed during the event, held in Nova Scotia from July 31 to Aug. 4.

READ MORE: Special Olympic athletes take on BC Games during special anniversary

91裸聊视频淪he was the calming force in the room,91裸聊视频� Assunta said.

Shameera also competed in the 100 m backstroke, placing fifth, the 50 m backstroke, placing fourth and the 100 m freestyle where she came in fourth, but set personal records in all her swims, Assunta said.

And there91裸聊视频檚 no rhyme or reason why she excels in the freestyle events.

91裸聊视频淚 have no idea, I just do well,91裸聊视频� Shamerra said.

Shameera91裸聊视频檚 coach, Shane McLeod said it was exciting to see the swimmers earning medals at the event.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 very happy for them,91裸聊视频� he said. Shameera was one of There were 24 athletes from the Special Olympics Kelowna Local team who competed at the games.

McLeod described Shameera as cheerful and game for anything.

91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檒l try it all and give her best. She has a real go-getter attitude and never says no,91裸聊视频� he said.

McLeod said Shameera excels with her stamina.

She looks up to swimmers like Michael Phelps and Kelsey Wyse, a local athlete who is part of Team Canada.

When she91裸聊视频檚 not in the pool, she91裸聊视频檚 working at her part-time job at Dairy Queen in Lake Country, attending university in the Steps Forward program at UBCO and working with her art, where her creations are abstract and left up to her imagination.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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