Roundup: Mallory Weggemann Welcomes Daughter
by Chrös McDougall
Mallory Weggemann poses with her gold medal at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. (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!
Welcome Baby!
Five-time Paralympic medalist Mallory Weggemann and her husband Jay Snyder have brought supporters along for their long and, at times, difficult journey to become parents. After sharing the ups and downs as they navigated IVF and male-factor infertility, all while Weggemann continued her elite training schedule, the couple announced a happy next step in that journey.
Charlotte Ann Snyder was born on March 16.
“You have completely shifted our world and filled our hearts with more love then we ever imagined possible,” Weggemann wrote on Facebook. “There truly aren’t words at this moment for the love we feel — holding her in our arms after long carrying this sweet soul in our hearts is a joy unlike any other.”
In addition to social media, the couple has shared their story with TeamUSA.org and several other media outlets over the past few years. Perhaps no outlet covered their journey as closely as People, and the site was ready with another story announcing Charlotte’s birth.
“Holding Little One in my arms after long carrying her in our hearts is something that is still hard to put into words,” Weggemann told People.
Weggemann, who is from Eagan, Minnesota, had also shared her story with local Twin Cities media. Here’s the news from KARE-TV, the local NBC station.
“From The Pool To A Princeton Ph.D”
The Daily Princetonian caught up with three-time Paralympian Brad Snyder this month.
Snyder, 39, went from being blinded in Afghanistan in 2011 to winning a pair of Paralympic gold medals in the pool a year later in London. He then added three more swimming gold medals in Rio before switching to paratriathlon and winning a gold medal in that sport in Tokyo.
Snyder, who also has two silver medals in swimming, is now pursuing his Ph.D at Princeton University. He told the Daily Princetonian that he’s now met all of the requirements for the degree and plans to move to Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife and young daughter to write his dissertation. His ultimate goal is to become a professor at the Naval Academy.
As for whether we’ll see Snyder in another Paralympics anytime soon?
“I’m taking a sabbatical,” Snyder joked to the publication. “I had every intention of competing in Paris, but it’s gotten to be too much doing dad duties and a Ph.D., so I’m going to sit out the road to Paris.
“But my intention is to come back and compete for a spot on the Los Angeles team for the 2028 games, and that will certainly be my last go around,” he added.
Send Good Vibes To Morgan
Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Morgan Stickney kept her followers updated this month as she went into the hospital for what she described as “a minor surgery” followed by IV treatment.
A few days later, on March 17, she wrote to her Instagram: “Hi Everyone! I’ve been struggling a lot within the past few months with my blood work being extremely low in certain areas. They are working on adding new doctors to the team to figure this out as it’s making my disease progress even faster😢 It would mean the world to me if you could keep me in your prayers🤍”
While the last few weeks have been challenging, Stickney had a happier update this week: Not only was she able to go swimming, she also got some puppy love.
Looking Back At Christie Raleigh Crossley’s Record
Christie Raleigh Crossley wrapped up three weeks of intense racing earlier this month, a stretch that saw the swimmer set a world record in the 50-meter backstroke S9.
Raleigh Crossley, who uses they/them pronouns, shared a video recap looking back at that memorable event in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.
Following a four-week break from competition, Raleigh Crossley is one of several U.S. swimmers set to compete at the next world series meet that will take place April 20-22 in Minneapolis.
Get Your Book Club Ready
Five-time Paralympian Jessica Long has a new kids book coming out in September, and earlier this month she revealed the cover of “The Mermaid with No Tail.”
“This adorable book is based on my personal journey, the book celebrates the importance of dreaming big and the power of being different,” the 29-time Paralympic medalist wrote on Instagram.
“It is my hope to inspire children everywhere to believe that the thing that makes you different can also be your greatest gift.”
Chrös McDougall
Chrös McDougall has covered the Olympic and Paralympic Movement for TeamUSA.org since 2009 on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc. He is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.