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Roundup: Para Swimmers Celebrate National Girls & Women In Sports Day

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by Karen Price

Sophia Herzog competes at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. (Photo: Joe Kusumoto)

Every other week we scour the web for the latest going on in the world of U.S. Para swimming. Here’s what you missed!


Para Swimmers Celebrate National Girls & Women In Sports Day

National Girls & Women in Sports Day is an annual celebration of student-athletes, professional athletes, coaches, administrators and lawmakers committed to providing equitable access to sports for all girls and women, and the women of U.S. Para swimming marked the Feb. 2 occasion with social media posts. 

 

Two-time Paralympian Sophia Herzog posted a photo of her alongside Women’s Sports Foundation founder Billie Jean King and another of her swimming, writing, “Cheers to girls that are finding their passion & confidence in the field of play & cheers to the women paving the way and breaking stereotypes daily in sports! #nationalgirlsandwomeninsportsday”



Three-time Paralympian McKenzie Coan wrote: “To the incredible women who came before me and paved the way, thank you. To those who strive to break barriers and do what they love today, keep shining. And to all the girls looking towards their future, chase your dreams and never settle. 

 

“I’m forever grateful for the opportunities I have and for the chance to do what I love every day. I would not be who I am without the water. 

 

“Women belong in sports.

 

“Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day 🌟”



Five-time Paralympian Jessica Long, who owns 29 Paralympic medals, posted a photo of herself as a young teen swimmer making her Paralympic debut in Athens in 2004, writing, “To all the girls who show up and practice even when they are tired, you inspire me everyday. To all the women who have come before me and made a way, thank you. To the next generation, dream big… we are just getting started.”

 

Long also noted that the Women’s Sports Foundation is celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day and the 50th Anniversary of Title IX with a virtual 5K and 50-Mile Challenge (she’s swimming her 5K!).  



Hannah Aspden marked the day with a series of photos of the women who inspire her, from Team USA swimmers both past and present to her teammates at Queens University in Charlotte. She wrote, “To the women that paved the road before me;

 

“To the women that make me want to work everyday to be the best I can be;

 

“To the women who’ve inspired me;

 

“To the young girls just starting their athletic journeys…

 

“👏THANK YOU!!!👏

 

“Strong is beautiful, and I am proud to be a female athlete!”



Mallory Weggemann, Cover Girl!

Three-time Paralympian Mallory Weggemann uses her platform to help change perceptions of disability, and now she’s featured on the cover of women’s clothing manufacturer EVEREVE’s website and current catalog. 

 

Weggemann wrote on Instagram: “Representation matters.

 

“When I try to explain that to others who don’t understand the weight of those words I ask this… 

 

“Imagine looking to the world around you and not seeing yourself represented in it? Not in media, entertainment, advertising, political offices, or executive roles. Imagine what that would inadvertently tell you about where your place in this society is? While also realizing that by being ‘different’ you are subject to the unwanted attention that comes with it - as if you are simultaneously invisible, yet overexposed. 

 

“Representation matters because it shows a path forward.

 

“This month I have the honor of being on the cover of @evereveofficial catalog - a moment that is about something so much bigger than myself. This is about representing a path forward, telling those who have long yearned to be represented in our society you belong and you are worthy - this is a visual celebration of diversity in the most beautiful way.” 



EVEREVE also shared photos of Weggemann on the official Instagram, to great positivity from followers who thanked the catalog for featuring real women: 



Hill Launches New Podcast For Aquatics Professionals

Paralympian Jamal Hill already wears many hats, including professional athlete and founder of the nonprofit Swim Up Hill, created with the mission of teaching one million people how to swim. He’s also now a podcaster, having recently debuted the first episode of Aquatics Today.

 

It’s part of a broader platform of resources on AquaticsToday.com.

 

“My vision with this new platform is to provide a resource of best practices, better systems and leadership development for the everyday heroes that protect our communities in and around water,” he wrote.

 

“In this first episode of the podcast I go into detail on my ‘WHY’ behind AquaticsToday.com. My journey as a lifeguard in the community and what tools I wish I had access to in order to help me develop not only as a community change agent, but as a human being too.

 

“If you’re a Lifeguard, Pool Manager, Aquatic Facility Operator, Professional Swimmer, or quite frankly someone in need of a burst of inspiration, this podcast is for you.”



Hill was also featured recently on Fox 11 in Los Angeles for one of the station’s Community Champions segments:



Winter Swimming? Brrr!

Paralympian Anastasia Pagonis has amassed legions of social media followers thanks to her funny takes on topics including what it’s like to be blind and how others view blindness, and recently she put her comedy on ice, er, snow.

 

The video shows the two-time Paralympic medalist in her swimsuit, with her gold medal from Tokyo, diving into a snowy front yard and pretending to swim. 

 

She wrote, “I’m a summer Paralympic athlete but cheering on all the winter @TeamUSA athletes! Let’s gooo!

 

“What winter sport are looking forward to watching?”


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