Morgan Stickney competes at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira. (Photo: Ralf Kuckuck)

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!

Grab The Cap And Gown

Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Morgan Stickney recently celebrated her graduation from Biola University in La Mirada, California. She detailed the ups and downs that she faced while continuing her education as an elite athlete, which led her to such a proud moment.

“The past 6 years have been full of many highs and lows,” Stickney wrote on Instagram. “What this diploma doesn’t show you is the 22 surgeries I’ve endured (including 4 major amputations), winning two Paralympic Gold medals in Tokyo just one year after becoming a bilateral amputee, and all those days in the hospital sick to my stomach still doing school work for this day!

“Proud is an understatement but I wouldn’t be where I am today without my amazing family and friends.”

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A post shared by Morgan Stickney (@morganstickney)

Colorado Living

A month ago, 2024 Paralympic hopeful Taylor Winnett became a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Winnett has been busy experiencing life in Colorado since then including going to Avalanche hockey games, celebrating her 24th birthday and seeing the new Mario movie.

“Today is already 1 month of Colorado living!” she wrote on Instagram. “Over the last month I have: Raced in Minneapolis during the U.S. World Para Swimming World Series Leg, eaten lots of ice cream, tried out cupping (I’m not a huge fan) however sports medicine here is amazing, had an allergic reaction to the tables in sports med, swam a lot! This week I had my first over 6 mile total day across two practices.

“Pushed myself in new ways in the gym. Coach Jared encouraged me to legit try leg press for the first time since my back and it was difficult, but I’m looking forward to him pushing me to try new things I used to be afraid of!”

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A post shared by Taylor Michelle Winnett (@taylor_winnett)

Women’s Summit

On May 4, espnW hosted its Summit NYC in New York, which acts as a day of conversation about driving change and inspiring growth in women’s sports.

Jessica Long, a 29-time Paralympic medalist, was in attendance to watch the panel of speakers which included Julie Foudy and Breanna Stewart, among others.

“Always an amazing time at the @espnw summit presented by @ally,” Long wrote on Instagram. “Women are unstoppable.”

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A post shared by Jessica Long (@jessicatatianalong)

If you’re interested in watching the full summit, you can find it here.

Selection Season

The U.S. roster for the Para swimming world championships in Manchester, England, was released on April 28, and there were plenty of celebrations to go around.

For many on the team, like four-time Paralympic medalist Hannah Aspden, this year’s world championships isn’t their first rodeo. But the excitement of making the cut has not gone away one bit.

“So excited to have been selected for my 4th World Championships team!!! Our Trials meet in Minneapolis last weekend was a blast,” Aspden wrote on Instagram. “Always an honor and a blessing spending time with my amazing teammates and friends, and representing Team USA. So proud of everyone and looking forward to a great competition in Manchester!”

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A post shared by Hannah Aspden (@hannah_aspden_usa)

“I’m heading to Manchester to represent Team USA in my third world championship competition,” Tokyo Paralympian Lawrence Sapp wrote on Instagram. “Ready to go!!!”

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A post shared by Lawrence Sapp PLY (@lawrencefastswimmer)

Five athletes are making their world championships debuts in Manchester, including 2024 Paralympic hopeful Morgan Ray.

“I’m so excited to announce that I was named to the US Para Swimming World Championships team that is headed to Manchester this summer!!” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s been a wild 5 weeks of challenges, but there are so many unexpected blessings coming out of those challenges.”

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A post shared by Morgan Ray (@morgan_ray413)

You can see the entire roster for the world championships here.

Puppy Time

Two-time Paralympic medalist Anastasia Pagonis, who is visually impaired, took her followers on a trip to the Guide Dog Foundation in St. James, New York, to visit some puppies.

There, she got to play with her guide dog Radar’s family members and spread some information on raising dogs.

“Take a break for some puppy love,” Pagonis wrote on Instagram.

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A post shared by Anastasia Pagonis (@anastasia_k_p)

Roundup: Morgan Stickney Reflects On Her Journey To College Graduation

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