It’s a big summer for Brooklyn Sherba.
She’s graduating from high school and she’s competing in the Special Olympics BC Summer Games in Prince George from July 10 to 12.
Brooklyn is a swimmer and one of the youngest competitors at the Games this year.
She will compete in breast stroke, back stroke and free style in 50m and 100m distances.
Brooklyn’s favourite event is breast stroke and there’s just something about it that appeals to her.
“The frog kick,” Brooklyn said with her arms raised high.
Being in Prince George to compete at the BC Summer Games offers a very supportive environment for the hometown team.
“Having people around you cheering you on makes you go, go, go, doesn’t it?” Mom Sheri asked Brooklyn, who answered with a giant grin and an enthusiastic nod.
Sheri said she was grateful that Brooklyn found her sporting niche because when the triathlon family took Brooklyn out to participate with them on the triathlon course she wasn’t very happy.
“She didn’t like the cold, she wasn’t having any of it,” Sheri recalled with a smile.
“We thought, well this isn’t good.”
Sheri said all three of her children learned to swim and that's when things changed in her sporting life.
“And Brooklyn has always loved to swim,” Sheri added.
Sheri has just started as an assistant coach with the Special Olympics swimmers.
“It’s just so wonderful to be a part of watching these athletes grow," Sheris said.
"It’s a real inspiration to just be with them and follow their journey and it’s a really close knit group and it’s a very important part of Brooklyn’s life. It’s just one of those things, it’s always been part of Brooklyn’s life.”
Brooklyn also participates in basketball at school and Special Olympics rhythmic gymnastics and Club Fit and she also has done a little bit of track and field.
“It’s just a great community for the athletes, Prince George is just so inclusive,” Sheri said.
“It’s just lovely to have these opportunities to host the BC Summer Games. It’s a real honour for our community to do that. These games are not only a celebration of the courage and dedication of all the athletes with intellectual disabilities but it’s that true inspiration that they bring to all of us – you really just need to watch them for a moment and it’s contagious. We’re really looking forward to the BC Summer Games. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
For more information and to support the athletes by volunteering visit www.specialolympics.ca/british-columbia/2025-sobc-summer-games.
