WASHINGTON (ABC7) —
Rose Pleskow is attacking life without boundaries.
"She has a competitive spirit, she wants to do better, she wants to go faster," said Denis Crean.
Born with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy, the Reston, Virginia, native competes internationally in open water swimming.
"My mom started swimming when she was pregnant with me, so I've been swimming all my life," said Rose Pleskow.
Pleskow trains with a group called WaveOne Swimming in the Potomac River at National Harbor, Maryland, with her mom right by her side.
"Just to look up and sometimes our faces meet," said Susan Pleskow. "It’s just pure heaven to me."
Rose is one terrific athlete, along with open water swimming, she’s quite the runner as well.
Back in 2011 at the Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece, she won the bronze medal in the 1500 meters race, which is just a perfect example of Rose being able to do anything she puts her mind to.
"When I won the bronze medal, I almost cried because I worked so hard for it," said Rose.
Now, she's focused on starting college and getting a degree.
"Don’t let the people in the past tell you that you can’t do anything because you can do it," said Rose.
Rose is definitely becoming a leader everybody should follow.