POULSBO — Katie Burton was born with a neurological disorder called hydrocephalus. It didn’t stop her from learning to swim at 3 years old, didn’t stop her from becoming a “born swimmer” and didn’t stop her from wanting to shave a few seconds off her time during each trip around the pool.

This weekend, Burton and eight other athletes won’t let their disabilities stop them from pursuing gold medals.

Nine North Kitsap athletes will compete in the Special Olympics Southwest Region at Fort Lewis April 26.

“This gives me a chance to compete with different athletes of my level,” said Burton, who is 22 years old.

Burton is a seasoned competitive swimmer with several years of experience and a trip to state on the disabled swim circuit in 1999, when she competed with swimmers from Federal Way to Olympia. She was the only Kitsap competitor on the squad.

On Saturday, the athletes will compete in a range of swimming events from breastroke to freestyle, from butterflies to relays.

Coach Darla Smith started as a volunteer two years ago. She said she’s impressed by the kids’ work ethic. (They swim about 45 minutes a day three times a week.)

“The best thing about them is they’re dedicated and positive. They want to please you. If you ask them to do something, they’ll do it,” she explained.

Smith said that some of the athletes prefer certain events. One swimmer, Tiffani Harris, is a distance swimmer and churns out 20 laps a day.

Smith is aided by group of volunteers, including Irmgard Costillo, Bonnie Minor, Elise Huser, Tamaira Rogers, Jennifer Starkgraf and Nicole Hagin. Judy Chase is the team’s assistant coach.

Another volunteer, Eva Kleiven, said she enjoys the work.

“I decided to come in because I love swimming,” said the NKHS senior. “You get to work with a lot of great kids. It’s great for the kids to have such a great experience.”

The athletes will compete at Fort Lewis this weekend; if any take first place their events, a trip to state at Federal Way will follow at the end of May.