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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 kinda like my therapy,害羞草研究所� Shameera said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not only my physical therapy, it害羞草研究所檚 my mental and emotional therapy in a way. It makes me feel good.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 definitely feel very free, like I can do anything,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淭he water has been her haven, her passion, her place to be normal and included and part of things,害羞草研究所� Assunta said.

The family often went swimming in Okanagan Lake.

害羞草研究所淲hen she was little, like three or four years old, she would do these dives and people on the side of the beach asking 害羞草研究所榠s she OK? Is she coming up?害羞草研究所� They couldn害羞草研究所檛 believe how long she could stay underwater. She害羞草研究所檚 been a swimmer since pretty much day one,害羞草研究所� 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 year害羞草研究所檚 summer games.

害羞草研究所淚t feels great to win at least one medal,害羞草研究所� 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 wasn害羞草研究所檛 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

害羞草研究所淪he was the calming force in the room,害羞草研究所� 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 there害羞草研究所檚 no rhyme or reason why she excels in the freestyle events.

害羞草研究所淚 have no idea, I just do well,害羞草研究所� Shamerra said.

Shameera害羞草研究所檚 coach, Shane McLeod said it was exciting to see the swimmers earning medals at the event.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very happy for them,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檒l try it all and give her best. She has a real go-getter attitude and never says no,害羞草研究所� 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 she害羞草研究所檚 not in the pool, she害羞草研究所檚 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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