We often hear of the incredible dedication it takes to be an elite athlete.
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In the lead-up to the big events, from national titles to world cups and the Olympics, profiles on its participants tell quite remarkable stories.
It could be the years of being taken around the country by mums and dads on a shoestring budget in order to compete against the best, or the daily early starts to begin training whatever the sport.
Our top swimmers are very much a case in point, where years in the junior ranks, training seven days a week, is essential to progressing to the top.
It is a journey shared across a whole range of sports and competitions.
Next March, Nathan will fly out to Abu Dhabi to put his swimming talents on show in the Australian team competing in the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
That alone does not portray just how much he has achieved, for Nathan could not even swim when he first came to stay with his foster family.
There was though a very promising early sign, foster mum Judith McKeown says, when the intellectually disabled lad took an immediate liking to water.
It takes a lot more though than the love of an activity or sport to make you into such a top competitor.
And so, like any athlete wanting to be their absolute best, Nathan put the hard yards into his fitness, into the weekly lessons and the heavy slog of the gym.
He was blessed though, Mrs McKeown points out, with being a technically correct swimmer who once he’s shown the way he methodically puts that all into practice.
Nathan’s story is heartwarming and inspiring, as is his generosity in handing back a large Aspire community grant when he was able to raise the money himself.
He should be congratulated on what has already been an outstanding achievement and we wish him every success.
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