Celebrating the Paralympics: A Testament to Resilience and Excellence

By: Caitlyn N. ‘26 and Juliet F. ‘27

The Paralympics are more than just a sporting event; it's a powerful celebration of courage, determination, and human spirit. Held every four years, the Paralympic Games showcase athletes with disabilities who compete at the highest levels across a wide range of sports. The Games happen shortly after the Olympics, and athletes participate in various disciplines including track and field, boccia, goalball, wheelchair basketball, and adaptive swimming. 

Some of these athletes are from Baltimore, including Jessica Long, a Paralympic swimmer. The Paris 2024 games were her sixth time participating in the Paralympics and she competed in the S8 classification, for swimmers with mild to moderate physical impairments. In Paris, she added two gold medals to her collection in the 100m Butterfly and the 400m Freestyle races. Long is highly decorated: she has a total of 18 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze medals.

Long was born with fibular hemimelia, leaving her without fibulas, ankles, heels, and most of the bones in her feet. Long, although born in Russia, was adopted and grew up in Baltimore. In her youth, Long trained with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (a club for which many Bryn Mawr students swim!) Long recalls that the pool was a place where she did not have to wear her heavy prosthetic legs. She could “leave them on the pool deck, and jump in the water and just be [...] a normal kid.” At 12 years old, she swam in her first Paralympics in Athens, and seeing all of the other athletes made her feel like she was at home. All she “ever wanted was for the [Paralympic] movement to grow,” and looking back, she feels inspired when she sees the next generation of swimmers. Long loves when people look up to her as their role model. As a passionate advocate for disabled athletes, she often speaks about how representation in media is crucial. Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, Long remains focused on her mission to raise awareness for the Paralympics. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience and inspires others to pursue their dreams in the face of adversity. Long is not the only athlete who grew up in an adoptive family and became an astounding athlete and an advocate for disability rights. 

 Another athlete from Baltimore is Tatyana McFadden. She is widely considered the fastest female wheelchair racer of all time. Participating in the Paralympics for track and field, she is a 7-time Paralympian and 22-time Paralympic medalist. Like Long, McFadden was born in Russia and for most of her life, she lived in an orphanage until she was adopted at the age of six. The condition she was born with was Spina Bifida, which is a congenital disorder that paralyzed her from the waist down. Because the orphanage did not have the proper accommodations for her condition like a wheelchair, she had to learn how to walk on her hands. From a young age, McFadden knew one thing: she has “always had a determined mindset.” After moving to Baltimore and attending school, she became exposed to numerous sports. She took on swimming, gymnastics, and sled hockey, but the sport she fell in love with was wheelchair racing. Through taking up these sports, she gained strength and a passion to compete in the Olympic games. 

At just 15 years old, McFadden made her Paralympic debut in the 2004 Athens Games alongside Long. While being the youngest member of Team USA in her event, she was able to win a silver and bronze medal. Following the success of her first Paralympic Games, she won plenty more silver and bronze medals and gained multiple gold medals, proving her dedication and success in the sport. McFadden’s inspiration to millions of people stemmed from the track but was also able also reach high school students across the country.

Tatyana’s Law, ensuring equal access to school activities for students with disabilities was passed because of her experience with her high school track team. “I wanted to join the high school track team, but I didn't have the right to run alongside the runners”, she said in an interview. So, she filed a lawsuit to change the discrimination present in her high school life. Tatyana has gone through numerous challenges throughout her career, but her story highlights the outcomes of being brave and advocating for yourself.  

Both Jessica Long and Tatyana McFadden inspire young girls at Bryn Mawr and beyond, regardless of ability or background. They are champions of inclusivity in sports, advocating for equal opportunities for all athletes. In sharing their stories of perseverance, they instill hope and motivation in aspiring athletes, reminding them that with dedication and passion, they can overcome any obstacle.