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McKenzie Coan on S7 400 Free World Title: ‘It Means Everything to Me’ (VIDEO)

2019 WORLD PARA SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • September 9-15, 2019
  • London Aquatics Centre, London, England
  • Prelims 10 a.m. local time/finals 6 p.m.
  • Full results

Nate Williams contributed to this report. 

After her first win of the 2019 World Para Swimming World Championships, SwimSwam caught up with United States Paralympian McKenzie Coan, and she broke down what the swim meant to her.

“That was for the little girl in the little purple wheelchair at swim meets who swam her first 500, or 400 free, and just fell in love with it,” she said. “So I thought of her, and I did that for her.”

Coan won the 400 Tuesday in 5:09.58, six seconds ahead of American teammate and second-place finisher Ahalya Lettenberger (5:15.90). The 22-year-old Coan won three gold medals at the 2016 Paralympics and four at Worlds in 2017.

“I’ve learned how to sprint, but I’m a distance girl at heart,” Coan added. “I love to dive in, and get into my rhythm, and just go.”

Check out additional interviews from the meet below and subscribe to our YouTube channel for even more:

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Wolfie4525
5 years ago

So proud of you – so glad I got to meet you in Tucson. You make us elders remember why we fought so hard! Onward to toyko

ace
5 years ago

I LOVE that quote

Anonymous
5 years ago

What a boss. It’s been awesome following her career

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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