The Francescottis made sure to take a lot of photos on their family trip to Santiago, Chile, last fall. It’s a good thing they did, because daughter Maria Francescotti’s experience in one of South America’s most scenic countries was limited mostly to the competition venues around the Parapan American Games.

It turned out to be a solid tradeoff, as the 16-year-old from South Carolina raced to a silver medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke while finishing fifth in the 100-meter freestyle in her S9 classification.

Now she’s hoping her first international meet leads to more success in the near future.

“It was an amazing experience,” Francescotti said. “I met a lot of amazing people and I love getting to race in that really big atmosphere. It was incredible, beyond anything I could have imagined.”

Currently living in Bluffton, South Carolina, where she swims for Hilton Head Aquatics, Francescotti is embarking on a busy year leading up to what she hopes will be her Paralympic debut later this year in Paris.

Just a few weeks after Santiago, she had a strong showing at the 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships in Orlando in December.

This weekend she’s set to compete in the Para Swimming World Series at Lignano Sabbiadoro in Italy.

“I’m really excited for the whole experience (of going to Italy to swim),” she said. “I don’t really know what to expect going into it. I’m just excited to go over there, swim my best, and see what else happens.”

Francescotti will then be in Indianapolis next month for another World Series event, and then head to Minneapolis in June for the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, where she hopes to earn a spot on the American contingent heading to Paris.

“(Paris) is the goal,” Francescotti said. “I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been presented with along the way in this journey. It’s been really amazing.”

Francescotti has Poland Syndrome, a rare condition where a child is born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body. It can affect the chest but also the shoulder, arm and hand.

Since age 5, when she first discovered the absolute joy of being in the water, the pool has been her true happy place.

“I really love being in the water. It’s always been where I’ve been my happiest,” Francescotti said. “From the time that I was little, my parents would have to drag me out of the pool. When I first started swimming competitively, I would get home from school, and I was always so excited to put on my bathing suit and go to swim practice.”

And even though she’s the only swimmer in her family, her parents and sisters make up the most boisterous portion of her ever-present cheering section. Such was the case in Santiago.

“I have a lot of amazing people that support me and help me navigate this new landscape or this new path that my life is taking,” Francescotti said. “I’ve had a lot of support from people as I’ve started this journey.”

Before her family moved to South Carolina, she lived near Syracuse, New York, and competed for the Syracuse Chargers. It was while living in the Empire State that she met someone who continues to be a major inspiration. Martha Ruether, a two-time U.S. Paralympian, was helping out at a clinic Francescotti attended a few hours from her house.

“Hearing her talk about her story a little bit, that was my introduction to Para swimming, my introduction to the sport,” Francescotti said. “After hearing her talk about that, I knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an elite-level swimmer like she was.”

Of course, when she’s not in the pool or studying, she finds time to be a normal teenager and even has a few hobbies, including one she shares with a family member.

“I like to bake. I love to read,” Francescotti said. “My mom and I are both gluten-free, and I do a lot of gluten-free, dairy-free baking for people I know and for people that have allergies. Our family favorite would probably be a gluten-free vegan carrot cake that I bake. It’s my dad’s favorite too. It’s something we make for his birthday.”

Stephen Hunt is an accomplished freelance writer and sports statistician who has been blessed to cover a multitude of subjects and sports in his time. He is a contributor to USParaSwimming.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.

From Santiago To Italy To Paris? Teen Maria Francescotti Is Aiming To Build On International Success In 2024

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