Jessica Long
Most Decorated Active Paralympian in the U.S. // 4x ESPY Winner // Author
SPORT
Para Swimming
HOMETOWN
Baltimore, MD
CURRENT RESIDENCE
Colorado Springs, CO
FOLLOW Jessica
ABOUT JESSICA
- Adopted from a Russian orphanage at 13 months old
- Born with fibular hemimelia, her legs were amputated below the knees at 18 months old
- Began competitively swimming at age 10
- Made her international debut at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games at age 12, where she was the youngest athlete on the U.S. Paralympic swim team
- 4x ESPY Winner for Best Female Athlete with a Disability (2007, 2012, 2013, 2022)
- Named to Sports Illustrated’s “The World’s Best Female Athletes”
- Twice named Disabled Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine (2006, 2011)
- 77th AAU James E. Sullivan Award winner
- Emmys Presenter (2021)
- Strong advocate for disability awareness, adoption, and women’s leadership
- Author of “Unsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World Champion” (2018), children’s book “The Mermaid With No Tail” (2023), and “Beyond the Surface” (2024)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Most decorated active Paralympian in the U.S.
- 5x Paralympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020)
- 16x Paralympic Champion (2020: 100m butterfly, 200m IM, 4x100m medley relay; 2016: 200m IM; 2012: 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m IM, 400m freestyle; 2008: 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m IM, 400m freestyle; 2004: 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 34 pt. 4x100m freestyle)
- 29x Paralympic medalist (16 golds, 8 silvers, 5 bronzes)
- 8x World Championship participant (2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023)
- 54x World Championship medalist (37 gold, 15 silver, 2 bronze)
