3 years ago
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BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore tin proudly assertion the 2nd astir decorated Paralympian successful US history. Jessica Long conscionable returned from her 5th Paralympics wherever she added to her database of medals — 29 wide and 16 gold.
While she’s been nicknamed “Aquawoman” for her prowess successful the excavation and past week she got a accidental to trial her pitching arm.
Jessica is present moving with 1 of her sponsors, Bridgestone, connected a caller programme wherever she volition stock her experiences and assistance mentor adaptive athletes. The programme is called “Chase Your Dream” and if anyone is an illustration of idiosyncratic who’s done conscionable that, it’s Jessica!
Long tin besides cheque disconnected becoming the astir decorated progressive Paralympic jock successful past — taking location golden successful the women’s butterfly successful Tokyo. This after, the contention was delayed and the ambiance was changed by COVID.
“More I deliberation from a intelligence wellness standpoint, it’s hard, right? I mean the games are hard. it’s challenging, it’s tough. It’s 10 days of aggravated competition, truthful to adhd connected each the covid protocols brought its ain acceptable of challenges,” said Long.
“Nevertheless you overcame,” said WJZ’s Denise Koch.
That is precisely what Jessica has been doing her full life. She was adopted arsenic an babe from Russia and her parents were told her legs would request to beryllium amputated. Her communicative touched the satellite erstwhile Toyota ran an advertisement during past year’s Superbowl.
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“I cognize this volition beryllium hard to hear. Her life, it won’t beryllium easy.”
“I cognize it won’t beryllium casual but it volition beryllium amazing.”
And truthful it has been. At the property of 12, Jessica made a discovery. Swimming helped tame her heavy feeling of anger.
“Anger was conscionable a precise comfy emotion. I was conscionable angry. It felt a mode to beryllium tough, astir survival,” said Long. “I’m 29. I’ve had much surgeries than I tin count. I’ve had infections. I’ve learned to locomotion each implicit again much times than I tin count. But erstwhile I look backmost I deliberation it’s changing the mentality from wherefore me? to wherefore not me.”
“I genuinely feel, like, wherefore not maine to promote others. Why not maine to animate others and if I’ve inspired 1 person, I’ve ever felt similar I’ve done my occupation well,” Long added.
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Denise Koch
English (US) ·