Swimming Worlds Roundup: A Look Back At The Medals, The Memories And The Overcoming

Morgan Stickney won a pair of gold medals at the world championships despite “setback after setback” over the last year. 

She hopes her perseverance can inspire others, writing, “I underwent bilateral amputation, two emergency surgeries, re-learned how to walk, found out my disease was progressing yet again, lost my stepdad unexpectedly, and found out my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. I hope my story can show others that the comeback is always stronger than the setback💪🏼”

Stickney also posted some of the other highlights of the trip to Singapore, including visits to the zoo, Chinatown and Marina Bay.

At 33 years old, Jessica Long knows that her swimming career won’t go on forever. This year, she wrote on social media, she “prioritized new hobbies, found peace with things I was struggling with, bought a house with my hot husband, spent more time with family, took more walks with my baby Goose, traveled for fun events, planned my sister’s baby shower, enjoyed game nights, late nights, lots of ice cream, and most importantly regained confidence in myself.” 

But her time on the world stage isn’t over yet, and Long added a bronze medal in the women’s 100-meter freestyle S8 to bring her total world championships count to 55.  

She wrote: “I came into this Worlds knowing I don’t have many left. It’s been so much fun! I’m especially proud of winning bronze in an event I first won gold in as a 12-year-old back in Athens, 2004. At this meet, you won’t see best times or records. You’ll see me showing up, stepping up and racing for the love of it.”

Last summer in Paris, Grace Nuhfer kicked her Paralympic debut by winning Team USA’s first medal of the Games. So perhaps it was only fitting that at her world championships debut she won Team USA’s first medal again, only this time it was gold. 

“53 hours and a World Champion title later!!” she wrote. “There will never be enough words to properly express how grateful I am for my people. Forever celebrating the moments together, this is for you❤️”

Mallory Weggemann has now raced in 21 world championships races and won medals in all 21 of them. 

The queen of consistency wrote, “While there is so much pride in the results, having a podium finish in every world championship race I have competed in, there is even more pride in what it all represents and the community that has supported us along the way. There are a lot of people who have been a part of this journey over the past 15 years and I am so grateful for each and every one of you.”

Taylor Winnett was a Paralympian, but until Singapore had yet to participate in the world championships. Like several of her teammates, Winnett suffered her share of setbacks throughout the year. She had her appendix removed in January and has spent a lot of time doing physical therapy this year. But she wrote that she was, “looking forward to these races with gratitude and thankfulness and just want to try my very best with the body I have now.  

“It is an honor and a blessing to represent the United States as a disabled woman. I wouldn’t be here today without God and my friends and family supporting me along the way.”

Evan Wilkerson’s first trip to the world championships was one he won’t soon forget. From the pool to the team to the hotel and everything in between, he said, the trip was awesome. The icing on the cake? Winning bronze in the men’s 100-meter backstroke S12. 

He wrote, “I came into this meet not expecting a top 3 finish. I hoped for it and prayed for it, and through the grace of God it happened. Times like this make me realize how truly blessed I am. Not just that I get to travel around the world and do what I love, but also that God is never far and gives such blessings to his children.”

Noah Jaffe competed in his second world championships and came home with top-five finishes in all five of his individual events. 

He wrote, “This past year has been filled with so much growth both in and out of the pool and I am so proud of all the work I have put in. Since Paris I’ve largely been training on my own while I work on wrapping up my degree. While this has been extremely challenging, it has taught me so much about myself — I have so much love for the sport and continue to show up despite the circumstances. To be able to compete last week and place top 5 in the world in all 5 of my individual events (with a few PBs!) was so validating. So excited to see what I can do in the next 3 years!”

Morgan Ray, who’s now a multi-time world championships medalist after winning bronze in the 20-point relay, wrote that he “honestly didn't know where I would be at in a Post Games year. Grateful for the chance to race on the world stage, represent the greatest country on earth, and learn through the highs and lows. Excited to keep growing from here towards LA28. Still working for a medal in that 100 breast.  

“Thank you to my family, teammates, coaches, and everyone who’s supported me through it all — couldn’t do this without you. Praise the Lord for His continued blessings. All in His timing.”

Karen Price is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has covered Olympic and Paralympic sports for various publications. She is a freelance contributor to USParaSwimming.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.