0:00:17 > 0:00:21Hello, I'm Ruben and I'm 12 years old.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25I dream of being a world champion swimmer.
0:00:25 > 0:00:31And Nicole wants to go out with her boyfriend James.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37'This is our summer. Can we reach our goals?'
0:00:37 > 0:00:40I'm the champion!
0:00:40 > 0:00:44- Face our fears? - Can you do any better?
0:00:44 > 0:00:47And prove that we can do things on our own?
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Oh, no way!
0:00:49 > 0:00:53This is us breaking free!
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Take your marks... Go!
0:01:00 > 0:01:05Today, I'm training hard with my coach Gemma.
0:01:05 > 0:01:11I want to be a member of Team GB!
0:01:11 > 0:01:16Gemma needs me to swim two lengths in 50 seconds.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18That's proper hard!
0:01:18 > 0:01:24If I do that, I have a real chance of winning my race tomorrow.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28If we're going to get those times down to be in the GB team,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30we need to work a little bit harder.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Are we ready? Take your marks...
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Go!
0:01:35 > 0:01:40I have Down's syndrome. I compete against other people like me.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45This is my room. Full of medals!
0:01:45 > 0:01:51I go swimming in a gala, to get more trophies and medals.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55My coach is called Gemma Whipley
0:01:55 > 0:01:59and it's good to teach me lots of times so I can focus my mind.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02He's definitely a potential Great Britain swimmer.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05There's no swimmers swimming in his age bracket with Down's syndrome
0:02:05 > 0:02:07so he's swimming against all the big swimmers
0:02:07 > 0:02:09and he's still coming out with medals.
0:02:09 > 0:02:15Having Down's syndrome means I have an extra chromosome.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17It makes my face a bit different,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19my hands a bit different
0:02:19 > 0:02:21and my feet.
0:02:21 > 0:02:27My body has to work harder to make muscles and burn fat.
0:02:27 > 0:02:3251, that's one second off.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35I did it in 51 seconds!
0:02:35 > 0:02:41I still need a little bit faster for the actual race.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43Shall we go and do one more? Come on then, let's go!
0:02:49 > 0:02:53My friend Nicole is out shopping with her mum
0:02:53 > 0:02:56and best friend Charlotte.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- You don't want to wear what your mum wears, do you?- No!
0:02:59 > 0:03:05They are looking for an outfit for Nicole's new drama class.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09You've got to wait for me. Don't go too far away, OK?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Nicole's mum always worries when she's out.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16But Nicole wants her mum to give her some space.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22- Really? I don't think so, honey.- Yes.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25It's too big. The store's too big.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Mum...
0:03:28 > 0:03:32'When we go out, I'm on guard all the time.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35'You just want to protect your child as much as possible.'
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- Oh, no way. - Why, what's wrong with that?
0:03:40 > 0:03:43'I think she just wants to turn into a mini-teen.'
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Instead of having a mother hanging around her all the time.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Yeah, leave the shoes. We're ready.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Off we go!
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Nicole's mum is letting her
0:03:56 > 0:03:59join a week-long drama club all by herself.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- Starmakers.- Starmakers, that's right.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08How old are you, m'love?
0:04:08 > 0:04:11- I'm 12.- 12, OK.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13It's going to be a really good week.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Nicole is doing drama, dance and singing!
0:04:17 > 0:04:21- Nicole!- Lovely. - ALL:- Nicole!
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Splat!- Splat!- Splat!
0:04:27 > 0:04:29At the end of the day
0:04:29 > 0:04:32she will perform in front of the whole class.
0:04:38 > 0:04:44Nicole is about to act in front of her new friends.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48I'm not her dog!
0:04:48 > 0:04:52She's pretending to be a strict dog owner.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Excuse me, Nicole, is this really your dog?
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Yeah!
0:04:58 > 0:05:00I'm not, I'm her sister!
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Help me!
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Nicole's got a part in the drama group's main performance
0:05:07 > 0:05:10at the end of the week.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Thank you very much!
0:05:16 > 0:05:21I'm excited to get to the races
0:05:21 > 0:05:25but my competitors are much older than me.
0:05:26 > 0:05:32And the person I have to impress today is Gordon.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37I am really nervous before I swim
0:05:37 > 0:05:41and today the whole Team GB squad are there.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43I'm going to walk around with you
0:05:43 > 0:05:46and we are going straight over to lane 1.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53I'm ready for my first race. Here I go!
0:05:57 > 0:06:01But things don't quite go as I want them to.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04If you would like to clear the water, please, guys.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08I came fourth. That's a disaster!
0:06:08 > 0:06:12Out of six you came number four. It was very, very good!
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Look at Gemma.
0:06:14 > 0:06:20'I get frustrated when my body doesn't do what I want it to do.
0:06:20 > 0:06:27'I've got to turn things around soon, or I'll never make the team.'
0:06:29 > 0:06:36After drama school, Nicole takes some time out for boyfriend James.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40- Hello, James.- Hi, Nicole.- Come in.
0:06:40 > 0:06:47James is 12 and they have known each other since they were two.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13And now they want to go out without Mum.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25OK. Cool.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- Mum?- Mm?- I really, really want to have a date with my boyfriend.
0:07:32 > 0:07:38- Just you and James, or with mummies, too?- Just me and James.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Mummy's going to have to think about it, Nicole.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Really?- Yeah.- OK.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49That didn't go as well as Nicole hoped it would.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I'm getting over my setback earlier.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59I am going to give the next race my all.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04And this is my last chance to impress Gordon.
0:08:05 > 0:08:11- Lane four, Ruben Rueter. - This is a race I have to win.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Come on, Ruben!
0:08:19 > 0:08:20Yes, I've done it!
0:08:25 > 0:08:29First and fourth. And I'm pretty surprised myself.
0:08:29 > 0:08:35So...so I went and got a personal best. I got a medal.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36Well done.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41I may have won, but is it enough to make the trial?
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I go to see Gordon to get the news.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47Right, Rubes. Looking at how well you've done today,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51we can get you to train with the GB team.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- Is that something you want to do? - Very! Very much!
0:08:55 > 0:08:57'Yes, I've done it!'
0:08:59 > 0:09:04So, how is Nicole getting on as the day of her show arrives?
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It's square, like that crossbeam.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13She has been practising her lines a lot.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Sit down, be quiet or I'll put you in the oven!
0:09:26 > 0:09:31James can't wait to see his Nicole on stage.
0:09:33 > 0:09:34Are you ready?
0:09:34 > 0:09:38Oh, yeah! SHE GIGGLES
0:09:38 > 0:09:40All right, guys? Ready for show time?
0:09:40 > 0:09:44- CHEERING - Have fun, guys. Whoo! Yeah!
0:09:46 > 0:09:48APPLAUSE
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Nicole is up next.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Will she remember her lines?
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Music, and off you go.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01Sit down, be quiet. Or I'll put you in the oven.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03She has!
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Nicole has achieved her dreams.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Did you know that you made me cry?- Yeah.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30You did, did you see Mummy was crying?
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I was, because I was so proud of you.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35'She rocked it, and you think, she can do that
0:10:35 > 0:10:38'so we need to allow her to be going on a date.'
0:10:41 > 0:10:44How about it being a yes from Mummy,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46because you just spent a week
0:10:46 > 0:10:52being a really big, very grown-up young lady. Would that be good?
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- Yes, Mum.- What about you?
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- Yes, why not?- Yeah? Makes you happy?- Yeah, happy.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Cool. Come on, big hug, then.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Now is my own big day. I'm in Glasgow.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- Ready?- Ready. Go.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21We've been training for two hours.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29OK, Ollie, Andy, on the blocks.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32It all comes down to this race.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Ready?
0:11:37 > 0:11:38Go!
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Good job. Jump out. We'll have to have a look at the times,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00see what it says on the bit of paper and I'll let you know later.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04I worked so hard.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06If I swim fast enough,
0:12:06 > 0:12:11I'll have made it into the Down's syndrome GB squad.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Hello, Rubes. I've spoken to the coaches,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17we've looked at the times you swum in those races.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Now, how would you like to be part of the squad?
0:12:21 > 0:12:23- Yes, please!- Yeah?
0:12:23 > 0:12:28- So, Ruben, Team GB.- Yes!
0:12:28 > 0:12:32'It's all been worth it. I'm going to be a champion!'
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Now Nicole gets to go out with James.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45This is where you guys are going,
0:12:45 > 0:12:50for your first date. I'm not scared.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53At all. I'm not worried. Go and have fun.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02What can I get for you?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09The pasta, gluten-free. Lovely.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- Thank you!- You're welcome. Buon appetito.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23'This summer, she seems to have grown into this lovely,'
0:13:23 > 0:13:27- confident young lady.- There we go, guys, there's the bill for you.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- Thank you.- You're welcome.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35She seems to have just taken it in her stride and loved every minute.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44It has been a brilliant summer.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I'm a champion.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49And Nicole is out on the town.
0:13:49 > 0:13:55And we can do things all on our own.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57We are awesome!
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd