BUTLER TWP — 101 and counting.

Such is the gold medal count for Kristen Lindsey, 32, of Butler, a Special Olympic swimmer for the past 22 years.

Lindsey received her 100th career gold medal at the Pennsylvania Western Sectional at Clarion University recently. She picked up No. 101 at the Butler County meet last weekend in the Butler High School pool.

"She knows exactly how many gold medals she has,"Mary Ann Lindsey, Kristen's mother, said. "She's a statistician. She keeps track."

When asked how many silver and bronze medals she's accumulated, Lindsey said:"About 15 to 20 silver, maybe 10 bronze ... I'm not sure."

She's all about winning.

"Gold is what I care about," Lindsey said, grinning.

She cares about Special Olympics, too — enough to go through the organization's global messenger program and give speeches in support of the Games in numerous places.

Lindsey has given 18 speeches in the past three years, to be exact. She spoke before 6,000 people at Penn State University.

While her favorite swim stroke is the butterfly, she does freestyle, back and breaststroke as well and has medaled in each.

Lindsey was born with Down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that can result in shorter limbs, poor muscle tone and impaired speech.

None of these — nor a chronic hip problem — have stopped Lindsey over the years.

"I never give up. I keep going in spite of my hip," she said.

Lindsey has older siblings, Troy, 44, and Raeann, 41, who swam competively for Butler during the 1980s.

"Swimming's been a big part of our family and Kristen wanted to be part of that,"her mother said. "When she was 11, she came home from school with a letter explaining Special Olympics and she wanted to do it.

"We didn't know it existed until then."

The Lindsey family is grateful that it does.

"They've meant so much to her,"Mrs. Lindsey said of Special Olympics. "They've made Kristen realize she's good at something, the swimming has helped her physically and she's developed friendships that will last a lifetime."

Lindsey has even developed a rivalry with Jeff Dunn, a male counterpart in the water.

"They've been meeting head-to-head in swim events for years,"Butler Special Olympics swim coach Travis Anderson said. "It's always a competition between both of them."

"I just want to beat him ... one time, just one time,"Lindsey said, sighing. "One of these times ... I'll get him."

Anderson said Butler County Special Olympics has four swimmers who have competed 15 to 20 years. He knows of no other swimmer to accumulate 100 gold medals.

"That has to be a rare thing, especially in swimming," he said.

"We practice twice a week, two hours at a time, because that's when we can get the pool. That's not a whole lot of practice time, but Kristen's times keep getting better and better."

Lindsey was recognized for her 100-medal feat prior to the swimming portion of the Butler County Games. She stood on the awards platform as her name was announced, pumping her fist in the air.

Her 100-plus gold medals are stored in boxes at home — except for No.'s 98, 99 and 100.

"She's most proud of those and what they stand for,"Mrs. Lindsey said.

Perseverance, dedication and determination.

"I may need a hip replacement in a few years,"Lindsey said. "I don't know if you can swim after that, but if you can, I will.

"I've got confidence in myself. All I have to do is make sure I do my best. I'm not afraid to try. That's what Specal Olympics has done for me."

As for the younger swimmers in the program?

"I stand by the pool, encourage and cheer them on,"Lindsey said. "I don't even know their names, but if I can do it, so can they."