U.S. Paralympics Swimming Announces 2019 World Championships Team

becca-meyers-speedo-winter-invitational-4
Becca Meyers at the 2019 Speedo Winter Invitational; Photo Courtesy: Frank Genderson

U.S. Paralympics Swimming today announced its roster of 17 athletes who will represent Team USA at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London from Sept. 9-15. The team, which is comprised of 14 women and 3 men, includes 11 Paralympians and seven defending world champions.

“We’re excited to bring our experienced team of athletes to London for the 2019 world championships,” said Queenie Nichols, director for U.S. Paralympics Swimming. “The event, which falls close to the one-year mark until Tokyo 2020, will be a great indication for our athletes to gauge where they are in training.”

Headlining the team is 13-time Paralympic champion Jessica Long (Baltimore, Maryland). At the most recent world championships in 2017, Long was the most decorated female at the event, winning gold in each of her eight events (SM8 200-meter individual medley, S8 100 butterfly, S8 400 freestyle, S8 100 backstroke, SB7 100 breaststroke, S8 100 freestyle, 4×100 34-point free relay, 4×100 34-point medley relay) to bring her career world titles to 35.

Three-time Paralympic champion McKenzie Coan (Clarkesville, Georgia) will look to defend her four world titles in the S7 400 free, S7 100 free, S7 50 free and 4×100 34-point free relay, while Paralympic silver medalist Sophia Herzog (Fairplay, Colorado) will aim to repeat as champion in the SB6 100 breast and 4×100 34-point medley relay.

Two other female U.S. athletes will seek to defend their world title, including six-time Paralympic medalist Becca Meyers (Timonium, Maryland) in the S13 400 free and Paralympic bronze medalist Colleen Young (St. Louis, Missouri) in the SB13 100 breast.

On the men’s side, Paralympic bronze medalist Robert Griswold (Freehold, New Jersey) will look to defend his title in the S8 100 back, while Lawrence Sapp (Waldorf, Maryland) will aim to repeat as champion in the S14 100 back.

The team also features Elizabeth Marks (Prescott Valley, Arizona), a sergeant in the Army who competes as part of the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program.

The 2019 world championships will be held at the London Aquatics Centre, which was home for swimming competitions at the Paralympic Games London 2012. In 2012, Team USA won 41 medals, including podium finishes from Long, Meyers and two-time Paralympic medalist Mallory Weggemann (Eagan, Minnesota).

For updates leading up to the 2019 world championships, follow U.S. Paralympics Swimming on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

U.S. Roster for 2019 World Para Swimming Championships:

*Denotes U.S. Paralympian

Women
*McKenzie Coan (Clarkesvilla, Ga.) – S7/SB6/SM7
Julia Gaffney (Mayflower, Ark.) – S7/SB6/SM7
*Sophia Herzog (Fairplay, Colo.) – S6/SB6/SM6
Mikaela Jenkins (Evansville, Ind.) – S10/SB9/SM10
Ahalya Lettenberger (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) – S7/SB6/SM7
*Jessica Long (Baltimore, Md.) – S8/SB7/SM8
*Elizabeth Marks (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) – S7/SB6/SM7
*Becca Meyers (Timonium, Md.) – S12/SB12/SM12
Gia Pergolini (Roswell, Ga.) – S13/SB13/SM13
*Martha Ruether (Allegany, N.Y.) – S13/SB13/SM13
*Lizzi Smith (Muncie, Ind.) – S9/SB9/SM9
Leanne Smith (Salem, Mass.) – S3/SB3/SM3
*Mallory Weggemann (Eagan, Minn.) – S7/SB6/SM7
*Colleen Young (St. Louis, Mo.) – S13/SB13/SM13

Men
*Evan Austin (Terre Haute, Ind.) – S7/SB6/SM7
*Robert Griswold (Freehold, N.J.) – S8/SB7/SM8
Lawrence Sapp (Waldorf, Md.) – S14/SB14/SM14


— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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