Jessica Long is one of America’s most decorated Paralympic champions, a speaker, author, advocate, and sports personality.

Long’s life has been nothing short of amazing. Born to a teenage mother in the Siberia cold, burdened by congenital defects in her legs, and placed for adoption at 13 months old, Long was able to persevere to become one of the most decorated female athletes in US history. However, it was not without setbacks.

Long was born in 1992 with a rare bone disorder called fibular hemimelia – she didn’t have fibulas, ankles, heels and most of the other bones in her feet. At just 18 months old, her legs were amputated below the knees so she could be fitted for prosthetic legs and learn how to walk, but her adopted family would not let her physical differences limit her potential.

The daughter of Steve and Beth Long, Long is one of six children. Throughout her life, Long was involved in many sports, including gymnastics, basketball, cheerleading, ice skating, biking, running, and rock climbing. She learned how to swim in her grandparents’ pool where she would spend hours pretending she was a mermaid. She joined her first competitive swim team at 10 years old in 2002. Her first international competition was the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, when at 12 years old, Long was the youngest athlete on the U.S. Paralympic Swim Team. She went on to become a three-time (2007, 2012, 2013) recipient of the ESPN Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award and was named to Sports Illustrated’s “The World’s Best Female Athletes", and twice was named Disabled Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine (2006, 2011).

With an unrelenting determination and belief in herself, Long has been able to reach the pinnacle of her sport and maintain her position amongst the best in the world for over a decade.

Today, as one of American’s most decorated champions, Long’s work focuses on winning in the water and inspiring others outside the pool. It’s through her struggles that she has learned to grow and thrive as a champion and person, and her message of hope resonates with all walks of life. As an author and motivational speaker, leans in to lift others through inspirational leadership, mindset and outlook.

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