Butterfly Fast to World Class

Grace Nuhfer, a proud S13 Para swimmer, began her aquatic journey at age 7, trading in a short stint with dance shoes for swim caps and goggles. With Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and brittle cornea syndrome narrowing her sport options, swimming became both a refuge and a rocket ship. It gave her a way of chasing freedom, excellence and joy. 

She swam her way through middle school, high school and eventually to the University of Akron as a Division I athlete. But it wasn’t until halfway through college that someone said the magic words: ‘Have you ever thought about Para swimming?’ 

What followed was a whirlwind of classification attempts, a broken wrist, ligament tears and a delayed debut. Finally, in September 2023 at the California Classic, Nuhfer splashed onto the national stage and then splashed some more by casually setting an American record in the 200-meter butterfly. 

“Paralympics are super important,” she said, and she made it her mission to ensure the world saw that, too. 

At her first international meet at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, Nuhfer learned upon arrival that she was the only S13 swimmer entered. Most of her events were cut, except the 50-meter freestyle where she promptly broke the Parapan Am record. That experience gave her a taste of what was coming at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. 

But before the Eiffel Tower, there were the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, where she set her expectations of contending for medals. The difference? No dramatic ‘touch-the-wall-and-you’re-in’ moment like the Olympic Trials she grew up idolizing. 

“Everything was gray and uncertain,” she said. The final night was chaos with athletes, families, coaches and spreadsheets flying as everyone tried to calculate who was going to Paris. She made it and didn’t waste a second. 

Her first event in Paris was the 100-meter butterfly, where she snagged a silver medal for Team USA. But as soon as the medal ceremony wrapped, she jumped right back into the pool for warm-down. 

“It was bittersweet,” she said. “I knew I could’ve gone faster.”  

Her coach reminded her that what she did represented more than a stopwatch. It represented her journey. Her people. Her perseverance. 

Every race she swam at Paris 2024 ended with her in the final — proof that she belonged among the best in the world. Still, the Games ended, and like many athletes, she found herself wondering: What now? 

The post-Games blues were a new and worthy challenge to navigate. It wasn’t until her college conference meet, racing the 200m butterfly, that she felt something shift. Her coach’s words at the finish said it all: “Welcome back.” 

The next big goal was that world record in the 200-meter fly. She was so close at nationals. A few months later, at the TYR Pro Series meet, she came in determined and quietly confident. And then fate dealt her a strange card: nine girls in the final. Eight lanes. Nuhfer would swim alone. 

As she stood behind the blocks, a video recap of the Olympic Games in Paris played in the background. Not a single mention of Para.  

“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “Where were we?” 

She channeled that frustration into the race. At the 75-meter mark, a mantra looped in her mind: “This is not for you. This is bigger than you.” She touched the wall and broke the S13 world record. 

This year brings her first world championship appearance in Singapore. She’s traveling with her best friends and focusing less on pressure and more on joy. And her goals of “Have fun, give it my all and walk away proud,” align with that mindset. 

When she’s not swimming, Nuhfer finds joy in flowers on her windowsill, reading, photography and connecting with friends before jetting off to the world championships. 

When it’s time to celebrate an accomplishment she does it with cheesecake. Specifically, Oreo cheesecake. While she’s been training in Colorado Springs, she’s been filming “Baking with the Blind” TikTok videos with her S13 teammates. Raspberry swirl cupcakes might be next on the menu. 

One of the most meaningful moments in her journey came long before Paris. In 2019, Nuhfer volunteered at a Para swim meet where, for the first time, she met athletes who were just like her. One of them was Colleen Young, who cracked blind jokes and made Nuhfer feel immediately at home. Today, they’re like siblings which is proof that Para swimming is about more than records or medals. It’s about community. 

“Representation matters so much,” Nuhfer said. “I wish more people could see how elite, how entertaining and how important Para sport is. We’re not to be pitied. We’re here to make change and we’re just getting started.” 

And if you ask Nuhfer what’s next, the answer’s simple: Fly fast, make noise and celebrate every step of the process.