Nov 20, 2008 10:52 pm US/Eastern
Swimmer Overcomes Challenges & Inspires Others
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
-
-
Jessica Long has won too many medals to count.
CBS
Some people start life with special challenges. Some people refuse to let those challenges limit their accomplishments.
Maryland Paralympic athlete Jessica Long is one of those people.
Denise Koch introduces us to the swimmer who regularly brings home the gold.
This is Jessica's dive to freedom In the water, she says she is free.
In the six years she's been swimming competitively she's won literally too many medals to list. She's won seven gold medals at two Paralympics, the first at age 12.
She's broken 33 American records, 15 world and 18 Pan American. She just won the prestigious Sullivan Award for a burgeoning athlete. She's done it doing something she loves.
"When you're swimming, you don't hear anyone. You can really focus under water, which sounds crazy. But sometimes during my sets it doesn't even feel like I am moving my arms. It's really weird to explain it. It's a great sport, I love it," Jessica said.
That Jessica is swimming in a pool in Baltimore County is itself almost a miracle. Steve Long and his wife adopted her from an orphanage in Siberia when she was 13 months old.
She had malformed lower legs and within five months had to have a double amputation. But that didn't stop this child.
"From the time she was a little kid, she was always determined. She would always not let anything get her down. When the other kids would run up the hill, she would try and try and fall and fall and try again. She just did it until she was able to do it," said Steve Long. "We did actually think she was starting life with a big disadvantage. We start looking at it now like it may be an advantage."
"She's always determined. It's just pretty amazing, her attitude and determination, pretty inspiring," said Andrew Barranco, Jessica's coach.
Jessica did go through a time where she was embarrassed and self-conscious about her prosthetic legs.
"Around when I became a teenager, it was harder for me. I didn't like to wear shorts. I didn't really like to show people I was missing legs. After I got involved with the Paralympics, I didn't care. I mean, it's no big deal," Jessica said.
Out of the water, she's equally inspiring. She's competed at rock-climbing and even excelled at the Extremity Games.
"I think God had a plan for me to show people with disabilities to not to give up and it's no big deal if you're missing legs. Just keep on swimming and doing a sport you love," Jessica said.
Jessica is training right through the winter. Her next big meet will be in March at the spring Can-Am Games in Oregon.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Great NFL Hair
Visit Jessica Long's Site
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
