Nerissa Zelych was born with ErbB次元官网网址檚 Palsy. She has limited strength and mobility in her right arm and has undergone surgeries including a muscle transfer, bone removal and a bone rotation.

More recently doctors discovered both of her legs are weaker than they should be and figure it was also caused at birth due to issues with her brain.

As a toddler, her physique was more conducive to walking than crawling B次元官网网址� so she did.

Now a competitive swimmer, she earned a spot at the Canada Games and will compete at the trials for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

B次元官网网址淭his is a very big deal for me. (The Games) is a stepping stone to the actual Paralympics,B次元官网网址� she said smiling. B次元官网网址淎lmost every swimmer who goes to the Canada Games makes it on the team. That is what I want to do.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檒l compete in the Canada Games in Sherbrooke, Que. Aug. 1 to 19, after qualifying in the 50- and 100-metre fly and 50- and 100-metre breaststroke. She can also choose to compete in more events.

What began as an idea from a physiotherapist five years ago morphed into a passion but it didnB次元官网网址檛 always come easy.

B次元官网网址�(Standard) swim lessons didnB次元官网网址檛 adapt the strokes for me. I failed Level 4 seven times,B次元官网网址� said the Colwood teen.

Things changed when the 17-year-old began swimming with the Paralympics club at Crystal Pool in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淣ow swimming is my life, I canB次元官网网址檛 imagine not swimming,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing to be at a large para swim meet where all the people are disabled and everyone is competing and they donB次元官网网址檛 care what other people think.B次元官网网址�

SheB次元官网网址檚 adapted the strokes to suit her abilities, for butterfly she swims with just her left arm.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 move my right arm back enough for it. ItB次元官网网址檚 an illegal stroke if your elbow doesnB次元官网网址檛 clear the water,B次元官网网址� she said.

Training six days a week is also improving her movement outside the water, with significant improvement of strength and mobility of her right arm.

B次元官网网址淚 used to have difficulty even carrying a jacket,B次元官网网址� she said.

Zelych graduates from Belmont this month and plans to spend the next year training for the Paralympic trials. In the fall of 2015 she hopes to attend BCITB次元官网网址檚 digital animation program.