PARIS, FRANCE – Three American swimmers earned silver medals on the first day of competition at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris on Thursday. Elizabeth Marks (Colorado Springs, Colorado) set the tone in veteran fashion while Christie Raleigh Crossley (Toms River, New Jersey) and Grace Nuhfer (Greenwood, Indiana) each stepped on the medal stand in their Paralympic Games debuts at the Paris La Défense Arena.

Marks kicked off the evening with her second consecutive Paralympic silver medal in the women’s 50m freestyle S6. Marks earned her sixth Paralympic medal with a personal best and American record time of 32.90.

“It’s a best time for me, and that’s great. I swim against incredible women. I’m very proud of all of them. I’m proud to swim with them,” Marks said. “This is my sixth medal and repeat in the freestyle. I’m surrounded by wonderful people who support me and believe in me, so it’s hard not to believe in myself.”

The three-time Paralympian and U.S. Army Sergeant First Class will compete in four additional races in Paris, including the 100-meter backstroke S6, which she won gold in three years ago in Tokyo. All of Marks’ success hasn’t changed how she approaches the sport.

“I am an accidental athlete,” she said. “I have wonderful teammates who have taught me how to exist in this world. I love the sport, but no one really knows what will really happen. I’m just really grateful that I woke up today. Everything else is a bonus.”

Marks returns to action on Friday in 200 individual medley SM6 competition and will compete in a total of five events in Paris.

Shortly after Marks’ medal, which marked the first of the 2024 Paralympic Games for the entire U.S. Paralympic team, Raleigh Crossley added to the medal tally. Competing in her first-ever Paralympic Games, the mother of three snagged a silver medal in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S10. She recorded a time of 27.38 in her first Paralympic final to earn a spot on the medal stand just behind Yi Chen of China.

Earlier in the day, Raleigh Crossley set a new women’s 50-meter freestyle S9 world record in her preliminary heat. She swam up a class, competing in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S10 competition as the 50-meter freestyle S9 isn’t being contested in the 2024 Paralympic Games. She said she wasn’t shocked by the world record in her first swim.

“I wouldn’t say I saw it coming. I know what we’re capable of from the work that we’ve done so I’m very happy that it happened,” Raleigh Crossley said.

She said she enjoyed her first swim in Paris and soaked in the packed house at Paris La Défense Arena.

“It was exciting. It was fun to get out there and just swim and get the first one out of the way. This is a big stage. Walking out and seeing that crowd was pretty incredible. I immediately looked down and tried to find my kids. Just to get that first swim out of the way was awesome,” she said.

Thursday’s race was the first of four events for Raleigh Crossley at the 2024 Paralympic Games and she will look to add more hardware to her collection on Tuesday as she competes in the women’s 100-meter backstroke S9.

Nuhfer and teammate Olivia Chambers (Little Rock, Arkansas) closed out the night in the women’s 100-meter butterfly S13 final.The duo said they always enjoy competing alongside each other, even showcasing their special handshake before stepping in to the blocks.

“I love Olivia and I love racing her. We’ve been training together for the past six weeks. It’s just so fun to find someone who has this thing in common with you that not a lot of people share and we get along so well. To be competitors but also really close friend is super special and means a lot to me,” Nuhfer said.

Competing in her first Paralympic Games, Nuhfer rode a strong second leg to a silver medal and a third piece of hardware for her U.S. team. Chambers finished sixth in her first Paralympic Games final. She will be back in action on Saturday in the women’s 400-meter freestyle S13.

Nuhfer entered her Paralympic debut with confidence.

“I’m a true flyer at heart, swimming at the University of Akron. Coming here, I always know I have the second 50 in the bag, I love racing, I love being a competitor. I knew as long as I took it out strong in that first 50, that I’d be able to bring it home and race and have a blast,” Nuhfer said.

Following her race, Nuhfer was overwhelmed by the support she has received and was thrilled to win a medal for those who had helped her on her journey.

“It means the world to represent not only my country, but also my family and friends, my teammates back in Akron, anyone who has helped me get to this point. It’s really for all for them more than it is for me,” she said.

She will be back in the pool on Friday, competing in the 100-meter backstroke S13.

In preliminary heats, two-time Paralympian Keegan Knott (Lake Villa, Illinois) finished 10th in women’s 400-meter freestyle S9 action in her only race of the 2024 Paralympic Games. Knott’s U.S. teammate Summer Schmit (Stillwater, Minnesota) edged her by one spot, placing ninth in preliminary action. Schmit will return to competition tomorrow in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke SB9.

Earlier in Thursday’s preliminary competition, fellow two-time Paralympian Lawrence Sapp (Waldorf, Maryland) finished 13th in the men’s 100-meter butterfly S14.

Yaseen El-Demerdash (Overland Park, Kansas) made his Paralympic debut in the first of his four races in Paris, placing ninth in the men’s 50-meter freestyle S10. He will return to competition in the men’s 100-meter freestyle S10 on Sunday.

Two-time Paralympian Gia Pergolini (Atlanta, Georgia) finished 12th in the women’s 100-meter butterfly S13 in the final U.S. preliminary race of the day. The reigning 100-meter backstroke S13 Paralympic gold medalist will look to return the top of the podium in her signature event in Friday’s competition at the Paris La Defense Arena.

Team USA Medals

SILVERElizabeth Marks – silver, women’s 50-meter freestyle S6

Christie Raleigh Crossley – silver, women’s 50-meter freestyle S10

Grace Nuhfer – silver, women’s 100-meter butterfly S13

Other Team USA Results:

Lawrence Sapp – 13th, men’s 100-meter butterfly S14

Keegan Knott – 10th, women’s 400-meter freestyle S9

Summer Schmit – 9th, women’s 400-meter freestyle S9

Yaseen El-Demerdsash – 9th, men’s 50-meter freestyle S10

Gia Pergolini – 12th, women’s 100-meter butterfly S13

Olivia Chambers – 6th, women’s 100-meter butterfly S13

Team USA Scores a Trio of Silver Medals on the Opening Day of 2024 Paralympic Games Swimming Competition in Paris

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