Para Swimming Roundup: It’s Graduation Season For Team USA

What’s new in the world of U.S. Para swimming? Find out in this month’s Swimming Roundup!

We scour the web for the latest news and updates from Team USA stars and the wider world of Para swimming.

Congratulations , Graduates!

Gia Pergolini kept it short and sweet when sharing that she graduated from Florida International University. The two-time Paralympian wrote, simply, “Ok….bye!”

Four must be the number for Katie Kubiak. A four-time world champion in 2025, she donned the cap and gown this month and posted that she was getting four (!) degrees in four years, all in the same weekend she was celebrating a birthday.

The NYU grad wrote, “turning 23 + graduating with 4 degrees in 4 years from my dream school in a city 900 miles away from home. All in the same weekend. All things that, just seven years ago, we weren’t sure would happen. I’m beyond grateful for it all. God is so good! Onto the next chapter…”

And two-time Paralympian Lawrence Sapp also shared his accomplishment, having graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, writing, “I’m finally made it. To my graduation!!! Thank you UMSL for everything. It’s been a ride. And thank you succeed program for the past 2 years. I’m officially done all my college eligibility from Cincinnati In 2 years In Tap program. And now UMSL In 2 years. Now time for me move on my next chapter and I’m excited what’s my future holds me”

Congratulations to all the newest college graduates of Team USA!

Para Swimming World Series Review

Members of Team USA recently competed overseas in France and Germany as part of the Para Swimming World Series, and many of them brought their followers and supporters along for the ride via social media. Here are just some of the behind-the-scenes pics, videos and quizzes (yes, quizzes) from the pool deck and beyond.

Lizzi Smith wrote, “First meet back in a minute and I loved every second of it. The travel. The nerves. The adrenaline. Even the lactic in my legs at the end of each race. I’m grateful for all of it 🩵.”

Grace Nuhfer shared a lot of shots from Berlin:

And speaking of Nuhfer, she and teammate Olivia Chambers, hosts of the podcast “Optical Delusion,” decided to test their teammates’ knowledge of Paralympic swimming. Check out what they asked Morgan Ray, Lizzi Smith and Noah Jaffe, and see how they did:

They also interviewed Kenley Teller post-race:

And Teller shared her own photos, writing, “Berlin was such a treat 🤍🇩🇪. So grateful to have had my mom there at her first international meet!!”

Chambers also shared her own pics:

And Ray had some to offer as well:

And just in case you missed it, here’s a roundup of the Team USA action in Europe.

Hill Spreading Safety Education Worldwide

Jamal Hill is changing access to swimming and water safety education through his Swim Up Hill Foundation, and he recently announced a major expansion of his work.

The two-time Paralympian wrote, “We just took this mission across the Atlantic 🇿🇦 🌊. Excited to announce — Swim Up Hill Foundation is officially expanding into South Africa. In partnership with Soweto Swim School, we’re bringing water safety education directly into the townships — where access has been missing for far too long. The goal? 10,000 new swimmers. Not someday. Now.”

See the rest of his announcement and learn how you can help:

Truwit Coming To A Screen Near You

Sox Entertainment has acquired the distribution rights to Ali Truwit’s documentary, “Stronger Than You Think,” and will now begin shopping the film to a “wide range of potential partners,” according to a story in Variety. Truwit won a pair of silver medals at the 2024 Paris Games only a year after losing her lower-left leg in a shark attack.

Giving Maverick Vibes

Paralympic champion Christie Raleigh-Crossley and the Tiny Humans spent their Memorial Day on a beach watching some of America’s finest fighter pilots put on a show. With video of the Air Force Thunderbirds delivering thrills with their wingtip-to-wingtip maneuvers to the delight of the beachgoing crowd, Raleigh-Crossley wrote, “Freedom because of their sacrifice… Today we remember all who have given their lives so we can continue to live ours freely… Bless the U.S.A.”

The Bestest Boy

Anyone who follows two-time Paralympian Anastasia Pagonis on social media knows all about her guide dog, Radar. He’s been by her side for seven years, acting as her eyes and helping her to navigate life wherever it’s led, and Pagonis recently shared that it’s now time for Radar to retire. Not because he isn’t amazing, she said, but because he deserves to play fetch all day long.

Pagonis wrote, “Retiring your (guide) Dog is one of the weirdest heartbreaks ever. … It’s truly bittersweet, but this is what he deserves and I’m so excited to take you all on the journey of finding my new radar (but I’m convinced no one will compare).”

She added in the comments that Radar’s going to live with his grandma and grandpa. :) 

She’s Ready To Tri It

Taylor Winnett used to do triathlons in high school, a fact she shared on social media in announcing that she’s the recipient of a new handcycle from the Challenged Athletes Foundation that will allow her to get back into the sport. It’s something she said she never thought she’d get to do again after injuring her back a decade ago, but her dreams of one doing an Ironman are now resurfacing.

“Over the years I have met some really amazing people on the para tri team, some of whom encouraged me to try triathlon again,” the 2024 Paralympian wrote. “Although I am set on trying to swim at the LA 2028 Paralympics, and I don’t plan to compete in para triathlon on the elite level, my goal of an Iron Man has been on my mind for a while now.”

Check out her whole post:

And Speaking Of Triathlon…

Paralympic swimmer McClain Hermes is back at her “other” sport of triathlon, posting pics including her and partner Kirsten Sass atop the podium in Japan. The 2016 and 2020 Paralympic swimmer wrote, “So excited to have had the opportunity to race once again with the amazing @kirsten_sass in the beautiful rose gardens of Yokohama, Japan! It was a great week of fast racing, a fun bike course, yummy food, a gold medal, and the best pit crew around!”

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.