Jessica Long

Jessica Long’s life has been nothing short of amazing. Born to a teenage mother in the Siberian cold, burdened by congenital defects in her legs requiring double amputation, and placed for adoption at 13 months old, Long was able to persevere to become a 29-time Paralympic medalist, world champion and record holder.

With an unrelenting determination and belief in herself, Long has been able to reach the pinnacle of her sport and maintain her position among the best in the world for over a decade. As one of America’s most decorated champions and winningest female athletes in US history, her work focuses on succeeding in the water and inspiring others outside the pool. It is through her struggles that she has learned to grow and thrive as a champion and person, and her message of hope resonates with all walks of life. Long is committed to using her platform to raise disability awareness and the benefits of adoption, both domestically and internationally.

Long is a 5-time Paralympian with twenty-nine medals: sixteen gold, eight silver, and five bronze. She is America’s second-most decorated Paralympian and 52-time world championship medalist. A four-time ESPY winner, she was the AAU James E. Sullivan Award winner in 2006, given to "the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States," and was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2018.

Long is also the author of the children’s book, “The Mermaid With No Tail,” and "Unsinkable," an inspirational photographic memoir detailing her journey from underdog to world-class champion athlete.