Photo courtesy Joe Kususmoto
Long-time U.S Paralympic athlete and American Record Holder Michael DeMarco recently announced his retirement. DeMarco is a familiar face on the pool deck at Para meets across the country and is known as one of the more encouraging and inspiring athletes in the sport. He has forged a very long and successful career in swimming, with cerebral palsy classifying him to compete as S3, along with SB2 for breaststroke and SM3 for the individual medley. DeMarco’s final competition was the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Trials in Charlotte last weekend, where he was the lone competitor in the 50 breast, 50 free, 50 back and 150 IM for his classification, which is one of the more severely disabled classes contested.
After missing out on one of the 10 men’s spots for the Team USA roster heading to Rio, DeMarco posted on facebook: “It comes with a heavy heart to post this. After 21 years of competitive swimming, 17 at the Paralympic level, I have decided to retire.” It is apparent that DeMarco is loved and respected within the para swimming community as many of the comments left on the U.S. Paralympics Swimming facebook page credit him with personal inspiration.
DeMarco’s first international medal was bronze for the 50 meter breaststroke at the 2004 Paralympic Games. Since then he has been a part of Team USA for the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games squads, and has earned bronze medals at both the 2006 and 2010 IPC World Championships. He currently holds 13 short course and 13 long course American Records and is also a member of two American Record holding relay squads.
Congratulations Michael!!!!!!. You are truly an inspiration.
What an awesome career, pushed on my determination and grit. What a great American. It will be great to see what he does in the next chapter of his life. Many blessings to you and to your family. Thanks for representing our country with such dignity and excellence.