Team USA Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long joins TODAY after winning gold in the women’s 400-meter freestyle. She shares what the moment felt like when she won her 30th Paralympic medal and her plans to go to the Games in Los Angeles in four years!
Swimmer Jessica Long had to dig deep to reach an 'unimaginable' milestone by taking home the 30th Paralympic medal in her decorated career with an epic comeback. She trailed for 300 meters of the women's 400-meter freestyle - S8 race in Paris on Sept. 4 before finding another gear in the final 100 meters to win what has become one of her signature events. Long initially said after the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympics that she was not going to participate in the 400 again in Paris.
'I remember at that final turn thinking to myself, 'Jess, do not even think about breathing.' 'I just knew I had it about 25 meters out. I knew if I put my head down I could reach for the wall first.' Long now has a chance at her 31st medal on Sept. 7 when she competes in the 100-meter butterfly - S8 race. While her 30 medals are an incredible feat, she is not the most decorated U.S. Paralympian of all time.
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