Daniel Kamber

Physical Disablity: Cerebral Palsy

In 2004, Daniel Kamber competed in his first Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, however it did not go as well as he planned. He did not make the finals in his best event, which was the 50 meter butterfly. Falling victim to first time jitters, Kamber became ill and was not able to compete to his best ability. After what happened at the 2004 Games, Kamber did not want to compete anymore, but when he saw all of his past teammates leaving for Beijing he knew that he had to get back in the water, and as a result he started swimming competitively again.

Kamber arrived in Colorado Springs to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center when the coach of the national team noticed his swimming ability. He knows that making the national team is going to be difficult, but he is ready to put in the effort in order to compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“It is going to be pretty tough at my age [to make the team] but I think I can do it.  I am focused.  I am working hard.  I am eating right.  I am not here to slack off.  I am here to get gold,” Kamber said. 

He realizes that 2012 will probably be his last time to compete in the Paralympic Games as he will be 31 and he wants to move on with his career back in Alabama. In order to make Team USA for London, Kamber knows that he must push himself to get into better shape but he believes that he can do it and has the confidence that he will make the team.

Kamber was born with cerebral palsy, a congenital disability which affects the area of the brain that controls motor ability. In Kamber’s case it has mostly affected the coordination of his legs and balance. In order to move around as a child, Kamber either had to use a wheelchair or crutches, while wearing braces on both legs. 

When Kamber was 12 years old, he found the Lakeshore Foundation in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, a place that would change his life forever. After his mother literally pushed him into the swimming pool, Kamber realized how significant that moment would be. Swimming is the reason why Kamber is able to walk without any outside help today.