U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, announced today that 29 athletes, including three reigning world champions, have been named to the 2016 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Team.
“We are in a great position for 2016, we have an accomplished group of swimmers to lead Team USA into the Paralympic year,” said Queenie Nichols, high performance director for U.S. Paralympics swimming. “I’m always excited to see our decorated veterans return to the team, but it is especially gratifying to see so many of our young up and comers continually improving and being named to the national team.”
Of those named to the team, 19 represented Team USA at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships and three are reigning world champions. Cortney Jordan (Henderson, Nevada), Jessica Long (Baltimore, Maryland) and Rebecca Meyers (Timonium, Maryland) won a combined seven world titles in 2015.
Eighteen members of the team boast Paralympic experience, with Long owning the most medals with 12 gold medals and 17 overall.
Team USA had an impressive showing in 2015, highlighted by a 30-medal haul at the world championships in July and a 32-medal haul at the Parapan American Games in August.
Team USA starts the year with the Jimi Flowers Classic on Jan. 16-17 in Colorado Springs. Swimmers will have the opportunity to qualify for the Rio Paralympic Games at the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for cycling, swimming and track and field in Charlotte, North Carolina June 30-July 2.
Additional athletes may be added to the team rosters throughout the season.
| 2016 National A Team | ||
| Women | ||
| Hannah Aspden | Raleigh, N.C. | S9/SB8/SM9 |
| McKenzie Coan | Clarkesville, Ga. | S8/SB7/SM8 |
| Cortney Jordan | Henderson, Nev. | S7/SB7/SM7 |
| Michelle Konkoly | Eagleville, Pa. | S9/SB8/SM9 |
| Jessica Long | Baltimore, Md. | S8/SB7/SM8 |
| Rebecca Meyers | Timonium, Md. | S13/SB13/SM13 |
| Martha Ruether | Allegany, N.Y. | S13/SB13/SM13 |
| Elizabeth Smith | Muncie, Ind. | S9/SB9/SM9 |
| Elizabeth Wasil | Colorado Springs, Colo. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
| Colleen Young | St. Louis, Mo. | S13/SB13/SM13 |
| Men | ||
| Tharon Drake | Hobbs, N.M. | S11/SB11/SM11 |
| Tucker Dupree | Raleigh, N.C. | S12/SB12/SM12 |
| Robert Griswold | Freehold, N.J. | S9/SB8/SM9 |
| Roy Perkins | Del Mar, Calif. | S5/SB4/SM5 |
| 2016 National B Team | ||
| Women | ||
| Reilly Boyt | Ft. Collins, Colo. | S6/SB6/SM6 |
| Brickelle Bro | Castle Rock, Colo. | S8/SB7/SM8 |
| Anna Eames | Golden Valley, Minn. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
| Alyssa Gialamas | Naperville, Ill. | S5/SB5/SM5 |
| Sophia Herzog | Fairplay, Colo. | S6/SB6/SM6 |
| Anna Johannes | Alexandria, Va. | S9/SB8/SM9 |
| Letticia Martinez | Las Cruces, N.M. | S11/SB11/SM11 |
| Noga Nir-Kistler | Allentown, Pa. | S6/SB5/SM6 |
| Nelya Schasfoort | Avon Lake, Ohio | S7/SB7/SM7 |
| Mallory Weggemann | Eagan, Minn. | S8/SB7/SM9 |
| Men | ||
| Evan Austin | Terre Haute, Ind. | S8/SB7/SM8 |
| Cody Bureau | Latrobe, Pa. | S9/SB9/SM9 |
| Michael DeMarco | San Diego, Calif. | S3/SB2/SM3 |
| Ryan Duemler | Chesterfield, Mo. | S8/SB7/SM8 |
| Rudy Garcia-Tolson | Bloomington, Calif. | S8/SB7/SM7 |
USA Paralympics contributed this report.