Just months after the release of her autobiography “Unsinkable,” 23-time Paralympic medalist Jessica Long announced her engagement to boyfriend Lucas Winters via her Instagram on August 24:
The news comes at the end of a big twelve months for the 26-year-old. In September of last year, Long extended her contract with arena through the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The Games would mark her fifth-straight Paralympic appearance.
Long has been present in the promotion of the Games, especially in U.S. Paralympics’ celebration of being two years out from Tokyo:
@JessicaLong is eyeing Paralympic Games no. ??! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #2YearsToGo pic.twitter.com/BBw4t1bBS2
— U.S. Paralympics (@USParalympics) August 25, 2018
Two months after her extension with arena, Long was named to Forbes’ coveted 30 Under 30 Team. The list presents the country’s top influencers and visionaries under the age of 30 in a variety of categories – including sports. She was honored among numerous sports stars like Tori Bowie (Track), Julio Jones (NFL), Kawhi Leonard (NBA), Matthew Stafford (NFL) and Sloane Stephens (Tennis).
Fiancé Winters is no stranger to the sports scene – a former soccer coach for Northern Virginia Community College, he also won three national championships as an athlete before starting coaching. He is a graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.
NOVA Athletics contributed to this report.
Congratulations