God's Gifts: Blind athlete strives for Olympics
By KATIE LEFEBVRE
Globe staff writer
Posted Sept. 19, 2002

HINTON - Ashley Nashleanas, a sophomore at Hinton Community Schools, is just like other teenagers, but she experiences the world in a different way. This 16-year old young woman has overcome obstacles associated with being blind to become a nationally ranked swimmer.

Ashley was born blind and her condition is called optic nerve hypoplasia.

"There was a paper sent home in fourth grade about swimming and my mom said, 'it might be a fun sport because you can't do volleyball or soccer or basketball,'" said Ashley. "We had been looking for a sport that I could be in because I wanted an activity. I didn't just want to sit at home."

Ashley learned how to swim when she was two years old so she decided to try swimming as her sport of choice. Since the time she made the decision to swim competitively, she has achieved national status.

"Ashley has earned the right to compete in the last three National Disability Championships against the best blind athletes in the world," said Kelly Nashleanas, Ashley's mother.

Ashley's first national competition was in Indianapolis when she was 13 and she received a silver medal. When she was 14, she attended a meet in Phoenix and won two bronze medals and one silver medal.

Her most recent competition was in Seattle. Her mother added that at the Seattle competition not only did she win four silver medals, but the number one swimmer was 23 years old.

Ashley is the second fastest swimmer in the United States. Her other rankings are third in the world in the 100 Fly, fourth in the 100 Back, fourth in the 400 Free, sixth in the 50 Free and fourth in the 100 Breast.

The family prayed for technique for Ashley so that she could improve her times and God sent her Paula Hamp-Nelson last March.

"Paula stands at one end of the pool and I stand at the other end," said Kelly. "We tap her with a white cane when she gets to the end of the lane so she knows when to flip. Paula gets in the water with Ashley and puts Ashley's arm on top of hers so that Ashley can feel the stroke."

Since Ashley has started to work with Paula, her times have been dropping and her world rankings have been going up. After three months of working with Paula, she dropped 48 seconds in one competition.

"There are so many times when Kelly asks me how I know what to say," said Paula. "It is a gift from God that I can do this because I have a way of showing her."

Ashley was swimming six days a week about two to four hours each day. Now she swims two hours a day, does 120 sit ups, 30 push ups and 30 tricep exercises.

"A lot of times when kids are in sports, there will be days when they don't want to go to practice," said Kelly. "She never says that she doesn't want to go. She says, 'Mom, I want to go.' She pushes herself harder than any kid I have ever seen."

Prayer is a big part of Ashley's life. She and her mom are currently reading the Braille Bible. They have gotten to Numbers and are now skipping over a few parts where there is a listing of people "because it is boring," commented Ashley.

"I just pray to God everyday that people are nice and friendly at school and that I give all that I have in practice and at a meet," said Ashley. "Before everything that I do I always pray to God about it because I think it helps. I always keep on it."

If something happens at school, she comes home and reads the Bible.

"I tripped one day and was embarrassed," said Ashley. "I came home and read in the Bible that I should be calm about it. The Bible helps me do something about it."

The Nashleanas family belongs to St. Michael's Church in Leeds. Ashley is the leader of the children's liturgy program as well as being a greeter and gift bearer.

"The kids can't really understand the homilies in church so they watch a movie that explains better some of the things about God and Jesus," said Ashley about the children's liturgy program.

Besides being involved in her church and swimming, Ashley is also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She plays the piano and has earned superior at college festivals at Morningside College and Briar Cliff University. She plays the flute in band and pep band and sings in the choir. She also maintains a 4.0 GPA.

"I want to go to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece," said Ashley of her current goal.

Ashley has an Olympic account at First Federal Bank, if someone wants to sponsor her. The address is Ashley Nashleanas, Olympic Fund, 4211 Morningside Ave, Sioux City, IA 51106.