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Special Olympics Mexico athlete Karla Nari with her coach Gabriela Perez. [Photo by Kathy Smallwood] |
Her love of sports is reflected in her body language. Just mention Special Olympics and Karla Nari, 25, bursts with excitement and energy. She has been competing with Special Olympics Mexico for eight years in the sport of gymnastics. Nari rigorously trains four days a week in floor exercises and vaulting at a gymnastics center in her hometown of Nayarit.
At home, she’s a chef who whips up meals like soup, rice and chicken for her family, which includes her parents and two siblings.
“She is a perfectionist. Even her clothing must be very clean and well ironed before she wears them," said Gabriela Perez, who has been Nari’s coach for four years. She describes her protégée as meticulous, and notes that Nari has definite clarity to her priorities and brings the same focus and dedication to her training.
“Although she is serious and no-nonsense about training and competition, Nari is warm and caring and very popular with other athletes. She has loads of friends,” said Perez.
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