Danielle Dorris of Moncton has only been swimming for 3 years, but the 13-year-old could soon be one of the province’s youngest Paralympians.
Dorris is hoping to qualify for the Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this summer.
“I am really excited for it and I hope I can make it this year or even get close,” she said.
She is already a national record holder and her coach Ryan Allen believes she has the drive and talent to make it, even at such a young age.
“She’d probably be in the top 10 per cent of our club for kicking ability, able-bodied or regardless of age,” Allen said.
Dorris was born with only a portion of her arms, but her abnormally powerful legs have enabled her to master one of the hardest stokes in swimming — on Friday, she set a new national record in the butterfly.
She is so fast, she often beats her able-bodied teammates.
“It doesn’t even show in the times she makes that she would have a disability,” said teammate Mathieu LeBlanc.
Dorris said she likes to show her skill because “it gives able-bodied swimmers a chance to see what Paras can do.”
She has already travelled all over North America setting records as a para-swimmer, and says she celebrates her differences growing up.
“I liked it because I was different from everybody else. I wasn’t like the same and I like it a lot,” she said
Allen said she inspires her teammates to become better swimmers themselves. She is a a champion not only in the water, but also an ambassador for inclusion.
Dorris says her own personal motto to becoming a champion is to “get it done, do it fast and just have fun with it.”
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