Roundup: Catching Up With Team USA’s Swimmers In The Post-Paris Glow

Every other week we scour the web for the latest going on in the world of U.S. Para swimming. Here’s what you missed!

‘I’m Enough’

Emotional Austin says, “I’m enough”

Evan Austin may not have medaled in his fourth Paralympic Games, but the Team USA veteran said he’s at peace in a television interview following his final Paralympic race.

“If you’re not enough without a medal, you’ll never be enough with it,” he said. 

Congratulations To Community Champion Jamal Hill

Two-time Paralympian Jamal Hill was recently honored for his work with Swim Uphill, the foundation he started to provide life-saving, no-cost swim lessons for children and adults in BIPOC communities. The award, in partnership with Comcast, recognizes Olympic and Paralympic athletes on a yearly basis for their commitment to serving and bettering their communities through nonprofit work and who embody the values of excellence, respect, friendship, determination, inspiration, equality and courage. 

Truwit ‘Grateful To Contribute’

Truwit won a pair of silver medals and set a new American record in Paris, just over a year after losing part of her leg in a shark attack. She’s featured in a story on NPR’s website, saying, “I feel really, really grateful to contribute to Team USA’s medal count, because what I’ve achieved is on the shoulders of truly so much support from everyone around the country and that’s what’s gotten me to where I am today.”

Read the full story here.

From College To Paralympic Hardware

A number of the athletes on this year’s Paralympic swimming roster are either current or former college swimmers. Three of them, Truwit, Olivia Chambers and Christie Raleigh Crossley, are among the athletes featured on the NCAA’s website for standout performances at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Open Water Champs

Taylor Winnett competed in her first Paralympics and Matthew Torres his second this summer, but they didn’t take much of a rest afterward. Both athletes recently competed in the second annual World Para Swimming Sardinia Open Water Cup in Italy, and both won gold in the women’s and men’s 3K races, respectively. Winnett’s victory comes after winning silver in the event last year.

Paris Photo Dumps

McKenzie Coan recently got around to going through the photos in her phone, making it the perfect time for a photo dump. 

And check out some of Colleen Young’s pics here:

Marks Filled With Gratitude

Elizabeth Marks won five silver medals in her third trip to the Paralympics, and also was selected as one of Team USA’s two flag bearers for the Closing Ceremony. She wrote in one of her first posts since that night, “There will be many photos to come from this amazing experience, but I’d like my first post to be about the people that make it possible.

“❤️‍🩹 Thank you to the team behind the team. Five silver medals is great, but the laughs, tears and tired bonding was a gift I’ll never forget. Thank you for enjoying my crazy, you guys are the true MVP’s. 

“Proud of y’all!”

All The Feels

Ahalya Lettenberger has many talents, among them putting together an insanely cool and moving highlight reel from Paris, writing, “Truly an unforgettable experience. So proud to be part of the Paralympic movement ❤️💙💚”

They Went To Disney!

Christie Raleigh Crossley and her kids are Disney people, so of course the newly minted Paralympic champion and the family made it a point to celebrate at Disneyland Paris before leaving France.

Raleigh Crossley wrote: “We finished our day at Disneyland Paris with a family favorite of Pirates of the Caribbean & made a last-minute decision as a family to playfully wear the medals we had earned at the Paralympics for the final drop photo✨
✨this may be one of my favorite family memories✨
🏴‍☠️we brought home the booty 🥇🥇🥈🥈🥉🏴‍☠️”

And More Highlight Reels

Lizzi Smith also shared some highlights from Paris … of the more old-school variety. She captured some memories on film and is putting together compilations of the journey to Paris as well as her time there. Here are her pics from training camp in Stuttgart, Germany:

Ready For The Next

Keegan Knott just finished her second Paralympic Games, and already she’s looking forward to her third. She wrote, “had the time of my life at the Paris Games 🩵 i am extremely happy with the way i executed and ended my second games! these past three years have not been easy, and i’m so grateful with how this ended. cannot wait to continue on for LA 2028☺️”

A College-Level Welcome Home

Grace Nuhfer is back on campus at Akron after her incredible performance in Paris, and she received a heartfelt welcome back during a recent football game. 

And speaking of college football, check out Mallory Weggemann and her tiny helper banging the drum in Minnesota as part of Big Ten Saturday Night.

She also posted here:

Karen Price is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has covered Olympic and Paralympic sports for various publications. She is a freelance contributor to USParaSwimming.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.