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Jessica Long, a 15-year-old paralympic swimmer from Middle River, will find out tonight if she wins an ESPY for Best Disabled Female Athlete during ESPN’s annual award show in Los Angeles.
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Jessica Long was born without fibulas, ankles or heels and had her legs amputated below the knee when she was 18-months-old. She’s only been swimming for five years, but the 15-year-old from Middle River has captured national attention — and could gain even more Wednesday night.
Long has been nominated for Best Female Athlete with a Disability at Wednesday’s ESPY Awards, the annual sports awards show on ESPN, which will be broadcast Sunday night at 9.
“When we adopted her, we were worried about her being physically well and mobile,” said Steve Long of his daughter, who holds 14 world records for disabled swimmers. “We never imagined this.”
Steve and his wife, Beth, understood Jessica’s health conditions when they adopted the 13-month-old from Siberia. But they faced a difficult decision: amputation versus a series of surgical operations. But Steve said after reviewing the cases of children with similar conditions, he chose amputation.
“Growing up it made me want to try even more,” Jessica said. “When I was younger it was more difficult. But, now I’m fine. There’s nothing I can’t do.”
Jessica has played basketball and participated in gymnastics since she learned to walk with prosthetics at age 2. But when she was 10-years-old, she dropped all other activities in favor of swimming, which was much easier on her young body.
“She didn’t wear the prosthetics during gymnastics, so her knees were beaten up and we didn’t want it to hurt her swimming,” Steve said.
Jessica’s success does not surprise her coaches, who put her through grueling workouts against able-bodied swimmers at the Merritt Athletic Club in Towson five to six days a week.
“When she won three gold medals in Athens [in 2004], it may have been surprising,” USA Swimming coach Andrew Barranco said. “But she’s very determined.”
Jessica’s swimming has consumed their lives.
“We plan family vacations around her now,” her father said laughing. “We’ve been to Belgium, Germany, South Africa and Athens. We are looking forward to Beijing next year [for the 2008 Paralympics].”
Jessica said she plans on bringing home seven gold medals as souvenirs. First, though, is the ESPY Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Long said an ESPY win would be shocking, but she cherishes being nominated for the award along with Esther Verger, a tennis player from the Netherlands, Stephanie Victor, a skier from Park City, Utah, and Amy Palmiero-Winters, a triathlete from Meadville, Pa.
“I hope that the Paralympics will become better known,” she said. “I hope that other people see that I’m not giving up and that even able-bodied people can be inspired and see what can be accomplished.”
