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Port Kennedy athlete preparing for World Dwarf Games in Canada

Tim SlaterWeekend Kwinana Courier

PORT Kennedy athlete Sam Kimberley is training hard to represent Australia in three sports at the World Dwarf Games in Ontario, Canada, this August.

Sam (18) won three gold medals for swimming at the 2013 event and is determined to win gold again this year.

He came first in the 100m individual medley, 25m freestyle and 25m butterfly.

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As well as swimming, Sam will be competing in basketball and table tennis.

He has attended several training camps with the Australian squad, comprising more than 30 athletes, including one at the Gold Coast last weekend.

“The best thing about taking part in the games is competing against people with the same stature and abilities,” Sam said.

“I just love playing sport and it’s also a good social event.”

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Sam is one of three WA athletes in the team and is seeking financial support to be able to represent Australia.

He recently received $2000 from the Acton real estate group in Baldivis and Rockingham

On Tuesday, he challenged Acton chief executive Travis Coleman to a race at the Rockingham Aquatic Centre. Mr Coleman said the company sponsored Sam in 2013 and was always supportive of grassroots sport.

“For Sam to be able to succeed on the world stage at the world games and be a triple gold medallist is just phenomenal,” he said.

“We support him in his quest to win some more gold over in Canada.”

Sam was born with the bone disorder achondroplasia, commonly known as dwarfism.

It is a genetic disorder that results in shorter arms and legs and affects about one in every 20,000 births in Australia.

At the 2013 games, Sam met many people of all ages and backgrounds with different variations of bone disorders who showed that the condition was no barrier to success.

The 2017 World Dwarf Games will be the largest sporting event held exclusively for athletes with dwarfism.

Athletes from countries such as Spain, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Philippines, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States will also be taking part in the games.

Anyone wanting to help Sam in his quest to represent Australia can call 9523 3888.