“I want to represent my country in the best possible way,” said Cecilia Araujo, who was born with cerebral palsy.

The 17-year-old started swimming when she was three on medical advice. She has not stopped since then and has never seen her impairment as a barrier for personal growth.

“I learned to accept my impairment thanks to my mom Cledna Jeronimo. I really admire her. She taught me that the one who had to accept me was no other but myself,” she said.

Araujo’s hard work and self-belief paid off and, in 2013, she burst onto the international scene by winning several medals at the Buenos Aires Youth Parapan American Games.
“I remember it very well as an incredible experience since it was my first competition abroad,” she said.

Two years after claiming her first official titles as a swimmer, Araujo was invited to Sao Paulo, Brazil, by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee, to take part in a training camp.

We feature athletes on their road to Rio at www.agitosfoundation.org, on Twitter.com/Agitos and on Facebook.com/AgitosFoundation.

Anyone can use #TeamAgitos on social media to show they are part of the team, whether they are athletes, coaches, part of the Paralympic Movement or a partner organisation.

#TeamAgitos will carry on the momentum during Rio 2016 and beyond.