Kathmandu, July 25 -- What are the basics of swimming? Hands and legs maybe.

But when Jenisha Kadayat, Harka Man Gharti and Member Singi Syangba stood at the edge of the pool at the Refresh Recreation Centre in Bauddha on Friday morning, they lacked what most would consider the bare basics.

Kadayat warmed up from her wheelchair, her body immobile below the waist due to a spinal cord injury. Gharti, who has no arms, stretched his legs and torso, while Syangba-his left leg amputated below the knee-hopped on one foot to maintain his balance as he went through his warm-up routine.

As the trio waited for coach Subha Shrestha's whistle, Kadayat was already afloat in the lane since she could not stand, while able-bodied swimmers nearby and gy...