good job. >> reporter: stephanie ching did something extraordinary last summer, she swam and reached beyond everybody's expectations including her own. yet another victory to add to her many milestones and pedals. >> swimming, first time in basketball. >> reporter: ching has been an athlete for most of her 36 years and this year she learned she was selected to ride in the special olympics float. >> i was surprised when my mom told me about it. i'm really happy. so it was my christmas miracle. >> reporter: her parents might say stephanie is a bit of a miracle. >> i was just so happy. i just think it's amazing. it's just wonderful. >> reporter: a young woman what's starting line was miling behind. she had pneumonia three times before her first birthday and struggled to maintain muscle tone a challenge for many with down syndrome. but in her first tricicle age at age 7 she found something in her special olympic that is awakened her spirit as an athlete. a taste of success, determination, discipline and heart. >> i love to be around with other athletes. and encouraging others. >> reporter

stephanie ching of cupertino has been involved with the special olympics for 25 years. has participated and won medals in every sport the special olympics offers. she has also been honored by the san jose sports hall of fame. stephanie will ride on the special olympics float in pasadena on new year's day. good for her. >> that's awesome. >>> norad is spending the day answering calls from kids who can't wait for santa. >> how may i help you? >> 1300 norad volunteers are answering phones right now, taking questions from your children through the end of the night. >> the volunteers expect to take 200,000 calls. the commander of norad says this is one of his team's favorite times of year. >> it's our opportunity to give back, to live a christmas well like charles dickens said. >> one little boy said the thing he wanted most for christmas was all of his family together. >> that is the best gift. let's check out where santa is right now on the norad tracker. you can see the reindeer and all making good progress heading for cape verde, portugal. get this, already he's delivere

headed to pasadena tomorrow to participate in the annual tournament of roses parade. 31-year-old stephanie ching of cupertino has been competing in the special olympics for 25 years, winning medals in every sport in the games and has been honored by the san jose sports hall of fame. she says she's excited to ride on the special olympics float in the parade. >> i feel great. and really happy. >> we are so proud of her, and it's really exciting because she has gained so much confidence in doing sports through special olympics. >> you can watch the annual tournament of roses parade and look for stephanie right here on abc 7 beginning at 8:00 a.m. on new year's day. >> that will be fun. >>> the high temperature will be below freezing in ann arbor michigan tomorrow but it will be a much sunnier day for michigan football fans. this weekend a fan blog predicted an 80% chance of jim harbaugh. now it's closer to 100%. reports say the university of michigan will announce him as the next head coach tomorrow. the detroit free press made a big oops when it printed this morning's edition of the paper. they pu

stephanie ching of cupertino has been an athlete for most of her 31 years. she's a great swimmer. last week she was picked to ride on the special olympics float sponsored by kaiser permanente. the san jose sports hall of fame named her special olympic athlete of the year back in 2006. she's won a lot of medals. six medals in ten sports. ten sports. >> very talented young lady. >>> 8:38. well, it's a holiday proposal, one woman will never forget it. in 17 minutes, very creative way her fiance popped the big question and her reaction all caught on camera. >>> a possible scam caught on camera. coming up in 21 minute, the elaborate ways suspected thieves targeted an elderly couple in their own home and how their daughter saved the way. >>> low clouds and fog in certain parts of the bay area. but is it affecting traffic on this last monday of 2014? coming up, a detailed traffic report on your day so far. >>> plenty of low clouds and fog around. but after fod, it looks like -- but after today, it looks like more of a cold, wind event. we'll explain. ♪>>> champagne and sex in the city pu