Why does she do it? Why does she compete so hard? Why does she excel at sports?

Because Dakota Nesbitt can.

A third-grader at Bucher Elementary School, Dakota lives with a form of spina bifida. But that doesn't stop the determined 8-year-old from doing the things she loves to do.

In fact, it may even make her want to do them more.

"I think for Dakota, she's always been naturally competitive," said Amanda Nesbitt, Dakota's mom. "She never had the body to keep up. Everything she's done, she's always worked for. I don't know if she knows anything else but to work hard."

Dakota competes in wheelchair track, wheelchair basketball and para-swimming. And she's quite accomplished in all three pursuits.

A few months ago in Birmingham, Ala., Dakota captured five - not three, not four, but five - gold medals at the 66th annual Hartford Nationals, sponsored by Move United. The event is the longest-running national sports championship for athletes with a physical, visual and/or intellectual disability.

Dakota took top honors in her age group in the 60-meter race, the 100-meter race, the 200-meter race, the 400-meter race and the 800-meter race.

"I did good," said Dakota. "I got first places. But I always cheer for every kid in all of the races."

"She's done a lot in life," said Amanda of her daughter. "I think she just does it for the friendships. Every kid there has some sort of disability. No one there is saying, 'She's the girl in the wheelchair.'"

When she was younger, Dakota always had a desire to keep up with everyone else, to be like other kids. It was in September of 2021 when she was introduced to wheelchair and para-sports.

"She can't keep up with her peers," said Amanda. "She works her butt off to keep up with them. But you can't always be the strongest in the room. She deals with things other 8-year-olds don't have to deal with."

"The first time she got into a basketball wheelchair was truly the first time she took off," continued Amanda. "She went fast. It has been life changing for her."

"I have a bunch of medals in my room," said Dakota. "I want to keep competing because then I can have more and more medals in my room. Then I can wake up every day and be proud of myself."

Because Dakota's legs are partially paralyzed, she walks with braces and a limp. At a very young age, she learned how to make lemonade from lemons.

"'Disability' is not a bad word in our house," said Amanda. "We just want her to know that however she accesses the world is the right way - walking or wheeling, there's no difference. Whatever the best way to get around. We want her to be fully accepting of whatever it is. She walks, and that's great, and sometimes she has to wheel, and that's great too."

Among Dakota's future goals is competing in the international Paralympics. Given her track record, betting against her would be ill-advised.

"She has no intentions of stopping," said Amanda. "Dakota has zero doubts she's going to make the Paralympics."