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Long adds an ESPY to trophy case
BALTIMORE -
With her older sister Amanda at her side, Jessica Long sat in amazement as her name was read, honoring the 15-year-old as the Best Female Athlete with a Disability Wednesday night at ESPN’s ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. The holder of 14 world records in disabled swimming, Long now has another award to place next to the gold medals she won at last year’s International Paralympic Committee World Championships in South Africa. She has yet to receive the ESPY, but was told it will be shipped to her home in Middle River. Her mother, Beth, said it will likely be placed alongside another prized possession: the James E. Sullivan Award, which is given to the nation’s top amateur athlete by the Amateur Athletic Union. Jessica said her most important item from the trip was the dazzling blue dress she wore while mingling with some of the world’s best athletes, including Serena Williams and fellow Baltimore county swimmer Michael Phelps. “I’m usually wearing a swimming suit,” said Jessica, “so it’s nice to get into a dress and look good.” Following the ceremony, Jessica, who did not think she was going to win the award, immediately called her parents with good news. “With swimming, she gets used to gold medals and winning whenever she competes,” Beth said. ”But with stuff like the ESPYs and the Sullivan Award, she didn’t expect to win because she’s so much younger than everyone else.” Jessica, who was born in Siberia and brought to the United States by her adopted parents when she was 13-months-old, was born without fibulas, ankles or heels. Five months later, her parents decided to have doctors amputate her legs below the knee instead of having their daughter undergo several painful surgeries. ESPY NOTES Here are some other notable winners who received ESPY Awards. The show will be televised on ESPN Sunday night at 9. » LaDainian Tomlinson, Best Male Athlete » Tony Dungy, Best Coach » Devin Hester Breakthrough Athlete » Boise State defeats Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl, Best Game » Peyton Manning, Championship Performance » Derek Jeter, Baseball Player of the Year » LeBron James, Basketball Player of the Year » Jeff Gordon, Driver of the Year |