"I have Down syndrome, and I have no limitations,” Gabriel Cobb said in a speech at the United Nations headquarters in March.
The 22-year-old triathlete has competed in 13 of the athletic events that consist of swimming, biking and running.
Gabriel, a parishioner at St. Joseph in Cottleville, said he needed to stay in shape and continue raising awareness for Down syndrome.
“Our world is a little bit scared of people who are different in general, but those who are challenged mentally or physically, they're even a little more afraid of. And when people get a diagnosis with Down syndrome, which is very, very easily to detect in utero, there's a lot of fear,” Gabriel’s mother, Lori Cobb, said. “And with that fear comes sometimes, depending upon the medical team at hand, they can not give the most joyful outlook to these parents and having them encouraged to make wrong decisions with regards to life. So I want people to be able to see Gabriel, to see everything he can do, everything he is, and the light that he is and not be afraid.”
