PARIS – Five American swimmers advanced to the finals on Sunday at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Six-time Paralympian Jessica Long (Baltimore, Maryland) and first-time Paralympian Morgan Ray (St. Augustine, Florida) just missed the medal stand with fourth-place finishes in their respective events.

Zach Shattuck (Mt. Airy, Maryland), Ahalya Lettenberger (Glen Ellyn, Illinois), and Noah Jaffe (Carlsbad, California) all placed sixth in their races on day four at the Paris La Defense Arena.

Long was competing for the second time at Paris 2024, swimming in the event she has won for four straight Paralympic Games, but she fell short of the medal stand in Sunday night’s women’s 200-meter individual medley SM8.

“Obviously I would have loved to get on the podium, but if I look back on my career, I’ve won that for the last four Paralympics. I’ve won that since I was 16. The goal and victory for me was just to show up. I have nothing left to prove to anyone and it’s been a really tough three years. Obviously fourth hurts. I’ve had a fourth-place finish before in my career and I’m just really grateful that I got to have my parents out there,” Long said.

With a packed arena in La Defense, the fans have been supportive of all the athletes and as a long-time Paralympian, Long has enjoyed every minute of it.

“The fans are incredible. It’s been so exciting to walk out and to hear them cheering for us, especially being a Paralympic athlete. I remember being 12 years old in Athens at my first Games and it was so different, so this is the right direction for Paralympics and I’m so proud to have played a role in it,” the 29-time Paralympic medalist said.

Long will be off until Wednesday when she swims in another one of her signature races, the women’s 400-meter freestyle.

Ray and Shattuck got the opportunity to swim in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB6 final together and having their teammate in the pool helped the two have strong swims.

“I felt pretty jittery this morning, but I cleaned it up tonight. I had to just come here and race and have fun with it because this is my first Games so I’m trying to take it all in day by day,” Ray said. “I remember Zach spoke to athletes back at the Parapan American Games and said these long weeks are like a marathon. You have to take them day by day and not get burnt out and I think I’ve done a good job of that to just take each one as it comes. I was the first alternate in Tokyo and it’s just surreal to even be here and to be in a final also and be just off the podium is awesome.”

Shattuck, a two-time Paralympian, won his first Paralympic medal on Friday and he’s welcoming his role as a veteran and enjoying the chance to swim with his teammates. “Obviously not the best result, but we had fun. The fact that we’re here. I missed the final in Tokyo. I was ninth and I remember telling myself in the call room, let’s not do that again. Let’s be on the other side next time. So the fact that we were able to be in the final with a crowd, parents in the stands is unreal,” Shattuck said. “I’m the old dog and the young pups are coming up and they’re showing out. He [Ray] had an amazing swim so I couldn’t be more proud. Having two in the final is an accomplishment so hopefully we’ll get on that podium sometime soon.”

Shattuck will return to the pool on Tuesday in the 50-meter butterfly S6.

Two-time Paralympian Lettenberger swam for the first time in Paris in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke SB6 final on Sunday evening. She placed sixth in her Paris debut with a 1:47.72 time.

“It was really fun. The whole crowd is really cool. I could hear the crowd on every stroke which was really crazy and just walking out was pretty surreal. I’m glad I got one out of the way,” Lettenberger said after the race.

She will be back in the pool on Monday for the women’s 400-meter freestyle S7.

Leanne Smith (Salem, Massachusetts) closed out the early session for the United States squad, placing ninth in the women’s 150-meter individual medley SM4 with a 3:28.17 time.

Yaseen El-Demerdash (Overland Park, Kansas) competed in his second race of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, placing 10th in the men’s 100-meter freestyle S10 with a 55.93 time. He will swim his third race on Monday in the men’s 200-meter butterfly S10.

Alexandra Truwit (Darien, Connecticut) made her Paralympic debut in the women’s 100-meter freestyle S10 and she finished 10th with a 1:02.80 time. She will be back on Thursday for the women’s 400-meter freestyle S10.

Team USA Results:

Yaseen El-Demerdash, 10th, men’s 100-meter freestyle S10

Alexandra Truwit, 10th, women’s 100-meter freestyle S10

Leanne Smith, 9th, women’s 150-meter individual medley SM4

Morgan Ray, 4th, men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB6

Zach Shattuck, 6th, men’s 100-meter breaststroke SB6

Ahalya Lettenberger, 6th, women’s 100-meter breaststroke SB6

Jessica Long, 4th, women’s 200-meter individual medley SM8

Five U.S. Swimmers Advance to Event Finals at Paris 2024

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