Swimming Preview
Team USA will look to hold onto its place atop the all-time swimming medal table at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo. At Rio 2016, U.S. swimmers took fourth overall in the medal count after the 10 days of competition. The 37-medal haul included 14 gold, 14 silver and nine bronze medals.
U.S. Paralympics Swimming has nominated a roster of 10 men and 24 women for Tokyo that includes both newcomers and some of the best swimmers in Paralympic history. One among the latter who highlights the roster is Jessica Long, competing in her fifth Paralympic Games and looking to add to her 23 Paralympic medals. Other Paralympic medalists returning to the team on the women’s side include McKenzie Coan, Sophia Herzog, Elizabeth Marks, Martha Ruether, Lizzi Smith, Mallory Weggeman and Colleen Young. On the men’s side, Paralympian Evan Austin, two-time Paralympic gold medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson and Paralympic medalist Robert Griswold return to the U.S. team.
The U.S. Paralympic Team was determined based off the results from the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for Swimming, held in June 2021 in Minneapolis. Results from the Para Swimming World Series in Lewisville, Texas — the only one for U.S. Para swimmers this year — were also a factor. Paralympic newcomers such as David Abrahams, Anastasia Pagonis and Gia Pergolini all had record-setting performances at trials that showed they’re likely to be forces to be reckoned with in the Paralympic pool.
Swimming takes place from Aug. 25 – Sept. 3 at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.
Updated on July 20, 2021. For more information, contact the sport press officer.