Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
Jessica Long, one of the greatest Para swimmers of all-time, finished off an incredible performance at her fifth Paralympic appearance in Tokyo in early September, winning six medals to bring her career tally up to 29.
Long, competing in the S8, SB7 and SM8 categories, won three gold medals, two silvers and one bronze.
Long’s Tokyo Medals:
- Gold, SM8 women’s 200 IM
- Bronze, S8 women’s 100 back
- Silver, S8 women’s 400 free
- Silver, SB7 women’s 100 breast
- Gold, 34 points women’s 4×100 medley relay
- Gold, S8 women’s 100 fly
With that performance, the 29-year-old now ranks as the second-most decorated Paralympian of all-time with her 29 career medals, trailing only fellow swimmer Trischa Zorn, who won 55 medals between 1980 and 2004.
Long made her debut at the 2004 Games in Athens at just 12 years of age, winning three gold medals, and also won six medals in Beijing, eight in London and six in Rio.
Following her efforts in Tokyo, Long was featured at the Emmy Awards on September 19, presenting an award alongside track & field star Allyson Felix.
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