The Kia D Unplugged Show feat. Ex Special Olympian Ashton Smith
Ashton Smith, is a legally blind African-American female and Gold Medalist in Swimming. She is a talented Ex Special Olympian that had the privilege of competing in the World Games, Dubai and in Seattle in the National US Games.
“Many things stick out in my journey from hometown hero to homeless, world-class gold medalist despite having a limiting disability. My road to greatness started when I was nine years old. As a “Differently Abled” person, I found myself being left out of events, overlooked, and under picked. To say it caused inner trauma would be putting it mild. I learned to cope by escaping into swimming, which can be a team sport or an individual one. I found myself at the YMCA in Waxahachie almost daily. Once I discovered the water, I was naturally drawn to it. It’s a myth that Black people can’t swim. The truth is, there are not enough aquatic facilities in black communities. Once the staff at the Y saw I loved to swim, they encouraged, empowered, and enabled me to train and blossom into that youth capable enough to capture a spot on the Special Olympics team”.