( Source- self.com )
At La Defense Arena in Paris, the unstoppable Jessica Long continued her remarkable Paralympic journey, adding yet another gold to her extensive medal collection. The USA Para swimmer secured her 30th Paralympic medal and her 17th gold in the women’s 400m freestyle S8, marking her first victory in this event since the London 2012 Games.
Jessica Long’s Remarkable Victory
Reflecting on her historic win, Long shared the challenges she faced before the race. “Seven is one of my favorite numbers. It feels so good, right? I definitely woke up today really sore. My back was hurting, but I’m so thankful to my coach, who just continued to believe in me the whole day,” she said. Long, who was born in Russia and adopted by American parents when she was 13 months old, expressed how her determination was fueled by her younger self. “I just remember thinking to myself before I jumped in: ‘Do this for the little Russian girl who would never give up.'”
For Long, this win was not just about reaching a new medal milestone but also about the perseverance that has defined her career. “I really wanted to get to the 30 medal count. I would have been OK either way because I think you win with grace and you lose with grace,” she said. “This is my sixth Paralympics, and I’ve proven that I can win a gold medal again.”
Her victory in Paris was a testament to her resilience, particularly during the last 50 meters of the race. “I just tried to channel and put my head down, and I was like: ‘You know what? This last 50m might hurt, but not doing well might hurt even more.'”
Rising Stars Break Records and Jessica Long Shines Again
While Long secured her place in Paralympic history, rising stars also made waves on the same day. Australian swimmer Alexa Leary claimed her first individual Paralympic gold by breaking the women’s 100m freestyle S9 world record not once but twice in a single day. Leary first set the record in the morning heats with a time of 59.60, only to surpass it in the final with a time of 59.53. This achievement followed her earlier triumph in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
Leary’s story is one of remarkable resilience. “I have come so far. Being told three years ago I wouldn’t live, but here I am, walking, talking, and swimming at the Paralympics,” she said, reflecting on her journey. “I am just like, ‘Well done, Lex. You have honestly come so very far.’”
Wednesday also saw two other world records fall at the Paris Games. Ukraine’s Andrii Trusov broke his own record in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 with a time of 26.38, securing his second Paralympic title. In the same session, China’s Jiang Yuyan set a new world record in the women’s 100m freestyle S7 (1:09.68), winning her fourth gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games.
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