The Wall, the Word and Whatever Was in That Lettuce

If you asked Evan Wilkerson when he first dreamed of being a Paralympian, he’d tell you it wasn’t some dramatic moment it was a ‘just see what happens’ kind of thing. That curiosity and easygoing nature fueled an impressive rise for the S12 swimmer from North Carolina, turning a once-casual club swimmer into a world championship contender. 

Growing up blind, Wilkerson’s parents made it clear early on that he wouldn’t be sitting on the sidelines — he’d have a sport, just like anyone else. It just couldn’t involve a ball (depth perception does matter, after all). Swimming was the sport that stuck.  

He started at age 6, and it wasn’t until a trip to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Charlotte that something clicked. Watching athletes like Tharon Drake and Tucker Dupree be tapped at the wall instead of slamming into it headfirst, he thought, ‘OK, I can do this too.’ 

But doing it took time and a lot of learning. From open meets to a brutal COVID-19 pandemic pause, Wilkerson didn’t rush the process. “You don’t realize how much you love the sport until it’s taken away,” he said about the pandemic years. But by 2021, things got serious. He teamed up with Coach Bradford who, in Wilkerson’s words, was “very much going to get me in shape” and started showing up in a big way. At nationals that year, his entire club team came out to cheer, and it felt like a turning point. 

Then came 2023: silver and bronze medals at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games and a massive confidence boost. The fact that food poisoning kept him out of his last race didn’t even sting because one of his friends won the event instead. Wilkerson is, above all else, a team guy. 

In 2024, he made the Paris 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team, barely believing it when his name was called. But when he arrived at the Games? E. coli. The real kind. Bad enough that he dropped 10 pounds and was isolated in the Paralympic village. Still, Wilkerson fought back. He called friends, asked for prayers and willed himself out of bed in time for his first race. But after everything, ninth place was a miracle and a win. And in the 4x100 freestyle relay, Wilkerson placed fifth with a new American record. 

Post Games, Wilkerson hit reset. He got his first guide dog from The Seeing Eye, let himself recover and rediscovered his strength. He’s now sharper, faster and yes more cautious about international cuisine. 

Now, he’s heading to Singapore for the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships. It’ll be his first time in Asia, and he’s treating it like the Paralympic Games all over again. His main event, the 100-meter backstroke, leads off the meet, and he’s confident. 

“I’ve swum this race thousands of times in my mind,” he said. “I know exactly how it’s supposed to go.” 

Mental training is one of Wilkerson’s biggest tools. That, and faith. He sees every challenge — E. coli included — as something that happens for him, not to him. 

“These things shape me into a better person,” he said. “That’s the point.” 

When he’s not in the pool, Wilkerson’s got a full life. He’s heading to Ouachita Baptist University to double major in Christian ministry and sports management. He reads (recent favorite: Lone Survivor), codes, watches Netflix and hangs out with family and friends. And after a big meet, he celebrates with Chick-fil-A chicken minis. 

Evan Wilkerson is swimming toward something more than medals. He’s swimming for his faith, his team and the kind of grit you can’t see but feel when he hits the water.