For two hours, three times a week, they swim lap upon lap, alongside their team mates, never faltering, never complaining, just pushing ahead. They are as much a part of the team as the next swimmer — all able athletes, regarded as nothing less.

“We are the only swim team in Windsor that is fully integrated,” says Danielle Campo, Assistant Swim Coach at the Windsor Aquatic Club. “When we dive in that water, it’s not about what disability you have, it’s just about being athletes together and training.”

The Windsor Aquatic Club is a competitive swim team that is open to both able-bodied swimmers and those with disabilities. Kirby and Victoria are swimmers on the team who have Cerebral Palsy. Out of the water, they have difficulty with mobility, but in the water, that’s far from the case.

“They are the most dedicated swimmers,” says Danielle, who admits that it’s often hard to get the girls to stop and take a break. “You see it in their heart and in their eyes when they’re practising how much they love to be here.”

Danielle shares the girls’ passion for the sport, and knows better than most the challenges that come with having a disability — she has muscular dystrophy — but has also been witness to the wonderful things that can happen when a club opens its doors to athletes of all abilities. Danielle trained at the club for over 13 years, and is a record-holding three-time Paralympic Gold Medalist because of it.

“How awesome is that: for anybody to be able to come and leave your limitations and all of your challenges at the door, and do something you love to do,” she remarks.

And part of the reason the limitations get left at the door, is thanks to the door itself allowing it. The team practices at the St. Denis Centre — an accessible recreation complex. Its automatic entrances, accessible change rooms, elevator down to the pool level and special chair lift to help people with disabilities get in and out of the pool, mean the girls can practice right alongside the rest of the team with ease.

“That has been unbelievably helpful,” explains Danielle. “It’s difficult to live in the world when you have a disability — you’re faced with limitations every day. But I think this is a place where we can fight that, and it’s a place that, every day, we win it.”

One of the challenges, in addition to breaking down physical barriers, is changing people’s perceptions – and the club is accomplishing that by teaching their swimmers to not see the disability, but the athlete.

Danielle says that when the girls swim, they not only feel equal, but are regarded as equals by everyone on the team — and everyone, in turn, is better for it.

“I think it’s teaching them more than about the sport,” she explains. “It’s those life lessons; it’s the foundation they’re building here that’s going to help them to be successful adults.”