Vinton-Shellsburg Swimmer Defying the Odds

By: John Sears, TV9 Sports

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By John Sears

Story Created: Oct 14, 2009 at 8:24 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 14, 2009 at 8:24 PM CST

VINTON - Defying the odds is something Taylor Thorsvig has had to do her entire life.
A Sophomore from Vinton, Thorsvig was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects the brain and in Taylor’s case has taken away her ability to walk.
“I’d crawl around when I was younger cause I couldn’t walk. My arms are my legs pretty much,” says Taylor.

The disability hasn’t slowed her down though. Taylor swims on the Viking swim team. Her times are never going to make the record books, in fact it takes her 2-3 times longer to finish a race, but that doesn't bother her one bit.

“Its not that it doesn’t surprise me, it excites me. I’m excited at how well she does,” says Britton Lerch, Taylor’s mother.

“I love swimming, its freedom to me,” says Taylor.

For Taylor its about personal accomplishment and being part of a team.
“In real life most people don’t realize how hard it is to live the way I do.”

Says Lerch, “She did something a lot of kids in her situation would never do. She was so brave to do that.”

Brave, and defying the doctor’s odds one day at a time.

Check out the video story.

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