Team USA athlete Destiny Sanchez determined to win gold at Special Olympics

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Athlete Destiny Sanchez has been a fighter all her life. She will be fighting for gold in the upcoming Special Olympics World Games.

The 16-year-old is a student at John Glenn High School in Norwalk. She's also a member of Team USA.

Destiny started running four years ago. She already has gold, silver and bronze medals from past events, but now she is training for World Game gold in the relay and the 200 meter events.

She may be quiet, but she's determined.

"She's very shy most of the time, but ever since we've gotten involved with this, she has really started to come out more," said Lourdes Sanchez, Destiny's mother.

Lourdes described her daughter as a fighter.

"Always been a fighter even since she was born. She was stillborn, and they had to revive her, and ever since then, she's been fighting for life," Lourdes said.

Destiny is training five days a week to prepare for her events.

"She's putting in a lot of work to compete and she knows what it is to compete, you know, whether it's at a not special needs or special needs basis. So for me, that's honorable," said Claudia Godinez, Destiny's personal trainer.

Destity already has plans for her World Games medals.

"Hang it up in my room, on my door," Destiny said.

Lourdes said she doesn't have words to describe how proud she is of her daughter.

"I'm happy because my mom and all my family are going to go cheer me on," Destiny said.

More than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will be competing in the Special Olympics World Games from July 25 until Aug. 2. To get more information, visit abc7.com/specialolympics.