Spain's Sarai Gascon Moreno competes in the 26th International German championship for swimmers with an impairment at the swimming and diving arena SSE in Berlin, Germany, June 30, 2012.
Born without hands or a left forearm, Sarai Gascon took to the pool like a fish to water. She began competing internationally at the age of 9, and by 15 she had won a silver medal at the Beijing Paralympics. She made an even bigger splash at the 2011 European Championships where she won seven medals—including gold in the 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, and the 50m and 100m freestyle races. But she did so in the absence of South Africa’s legendary Paralympic swimmer Natalie du Toit. Their showdown during the 200m individual medley on Sep. 6 promises to be a highlight of the Games.