At just 15 years old, Sebastian “Sebi” Desposato, a freshman swimmer at La Costa Canyon High School, has already made history. Competing against athletes twice his size, Sebi captured the 2024 CIF State Championship title in the 50 Free Para and earned the State Runner-Up spot in the 100 Free Para.
Photos by Donald Miralle
Sebastian’s journey began early—his parents introduced him to swimming at just six months old, and by the age of four, he was already competing in his first swim meet at the World Dwarf Games. A long-time member of the CAF family, Sebi is also an accomplished adaptive surfer.
For the past three months, Sebi has trained under Coach Donald Miralle, a veteran CAF photographer and swim coach. With Donald’s guidance and Sebi’s relentless determination, he shaved an incredible 16 seconds off his 100 free time—a massive achievement in sprint swimming.
At the state championships, Sebi swam the fastest 50 free ever recorded for Class II Para swimmers with a time of 33.37 seconds. In the 100 free, he led nearly the entire race before being narrowly out-touched by a two-time champion.
Coach Miralle recognized Sebi’s impact by honoring him with the Coaches Award and Most Inspirational Swimmer, calling him the “highlight of the season.” He also successfully advocated for Sebi’s inclusion in League Champs, breaking barriers for greater representation in competitive swimming.
In addition to his swimming success, Sebi shines in adaptive surfing—a sport gaining momentum toward Paralympic inclusion. With the Paralympic Games coming to Los Angeles in 2028, there’s growing optimism that Sebi could one day compete at the highest level in both swimming and surfing, representing athletes with dwarfism on the world stage.
CAF is proud to support Sebastian’s journey and cannot wait to see where his talent and determination take him next.
Sebastian’s story is proof that with opportunity, mentorship, and support, athletes of all abilities can reach extraordinary heights. Your contribution helps provide adaptive sports equipment, training, and resources that allow young athletes like Sebi to chase their dreams.
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