10-year-old El Paso boy wins swimming medals with one arm

He was out in the water, swimming his way to gold medals all day long, and he’s only 10 years old.

But that’s not what makes this story remarkable.

Ben Ramirez takes to the water like peanut butter to jelly.

Stroke after stroke he pulled away from his competition with ease.

“It gets exhausting and it gets, like, cold so you have to keep on trying until you get to first,” he said.

On Sunday he raced against the best El Paso has to offer at the city championships.

Racing in the individual medley, one of the hardest four-leg heats, he swam away from the pack, in a hurry.

As the clock raced down, he was the clear winner.

All the more amazing because he did it with one arm.

Ben was born that way in China and was sent to a foster home. He was given a second chance in a good home in El Paso.

He won two gold medals and two bronze medals in the team races. He just loves the water.

Ben doesn’t use having one arm as an excuse for not doing better.

“I mean, I know there is a disadvantage but with the way he trains, he doesn’t say anything about it,” his coach, Josh Salas, said.

Salas said he outworks his competition. Ben’s older brother lovingly calls him “stubborn.”

Ben believes everybody can accomplish great feats.

“I would tell them, keep on trying and one day, you’ll accomplish it,” he said.