Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Paralympics 2012: USA swimmer Jessica Long targets more gold
Increased media attention, more interest from sponsors and closer links with Olympic athletes show the Paralympic movement has never been stronger.
That is the view of Jessica Long, arguably the most high-profile member of the 227-strong team the United States is sending to London for the Paralympics.
Long, still only 20, is a veteran of two previous Games, where she won nine swimming medals, including seven golds.
"The Paralympic scene is growing, we're all Team USA now," said Long.
"We could always do more, but we're getting out there. Hopefully we're encouraging disabled kids to get involved in Paralympic sport.
"One thing I've noticed is with the sponsors. It's very even now.
"It's great to see the movement continue to grow."
Long singled out BP's backing of five Olympians and four Paralympians in the US as an example of sponsors' growing interest in disability sport.
But companies such as Adidas, BT and BMW do the same in the UK, and she can count a number of blue-chip firms among her own sponsors.
That is hardly surprising when you consider her story.
Born in Siberia, Long was adopted by her American parents from a Russian orphanage aged 13 months.
Five months later, her legs were amputated below the knee because of a congenital condition that left her without most of the bones in her feet and lower legs.
Long refused to let this limit her sporting horizons, with gymnastics being an early favourite until her parents' worries about knee injuries pushed her towards swimming.
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