US Paralympics swimming national team named

“With Rio right around the corner, we are thrilled to have such a gifted group of athletes.”

US Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, announced on Wednesday (14 January) that 14 athletes, including six reigning world champions, have been named to the 2015 US Paralympics Swimming National A Team. Twelve athletes were named to the B team, with an additional 15 athletes named to the emerging and military teams.

“With Rio right around the corner, we are thrilled to have such a gifted group of athletes,” said Queenie Nichols, High Performance Director for US Paralympics swimming. “Our 2015 roster is made up of not only decorated and consistent veterans but also new faces who continue to impress. I’m eager to see what 2015 holds for this group of outstanding athletes.”

The 2015 national A team has proven performance with several veteran swimmers on the roster. Six athletes won world titles in 2013: Cortney Jordan, Jessica Long, Rebecca Meyers, Roy Perkins, Tucker Dupree and Ian Silverman.

London 2012 Paralympic Games gold medallist and US Navy veteran Brad Snyder also returns to the roster this year. Snyder took a brief hiatus from competitive swimming following the Games and made his return to competitive swimming at the 2014 US Paralympics Swimming Spring National Championships/Spring CanAms.

Long is the most decorated female athlete with 17 Paralympic medals, while Perkins takes the honour on the men’s side with six trips to the Paralympic medal stand.

Letticia Martinez, Colleen Young and Curtis Lovejoy also made the A team for the second straight year. Michelle Konkoly, who was initially named to the 2014 B team but jumped to the national A team for 2014 Pan-Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, also returns to the roster.

Tharon Drake and Cody Bureau moved up from last year’s B team, as well as Kayla Wheeler who made the jump from the 2014 emerging team.

Team USA had a dominant showing at 2014 Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships in Pasadena, California, where it finished atop the medal standings with 115 medals (34 gold, 49 silver and 32 bronze). Silverman broke a 13-year-old world record in the 400-meter freestyle S10 race, swimming a 4:03.57, and Konkoly had a shining Team USA debut with three gold medals.

Team USA begins the 2015 season at the Can-Am Para-swimming Championships from 20-22 March in Toronto, Canada, where the 2015 Parapan American Games will also be staged from 7-15 August. The 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships also take place in Glasgow, Great Britain, from 13-19 July.

Additional athletes may be added to the team rosters throughout the season.

2015 national A team

Women

Cortney Jordan, S7/SB7/SM7

Michelle Konkoly, S9/SB8/SM9

Jessica Long, S8/SB7/SM8

Letticia Martinez, S11/SB11/SM11

Rebecca Meyers, S13/SB13/SM13

Colleen Young, S13/SB13/SM13

Kayla Wheeler, S2/SB1/SM2

Men

Cody Bureau, S9/SB9/SM9

Tharon Drake, S11/SB11/SM11

Tucker Dupree, S12/SB12/SM12

Curtis Lovejoy, S2/SB1/SM2

Roy Perkins, S5/SB4/SM5

Ian Silverman, S10/SB9/SM10

Brad Snyder, S11/SB11/SM11

2015 national B team

Women

Hannah Aspden, S9/SB8/SM9

Brickelle Bro, S8/SB7/SM8

McKenzie Coan, S8/SB7/SM8

Anna Eames, S10/SB9/SM10

Noga Nir-Kistler, S6/SB5/SM6

Martha Ruether, S13/SB13/SM13

Elizabeth Smith, S9/SB9/SM9

Leanne Smith, S7/SB6/SM7

Men

Evan Austin, S8/SB7/SM8

Ryan Duemler, S8/SB7/SM8

Robert Griswold, S9/SB8/SM9

Dalton Herendeen, S10/SB8/SM10

2015 emerging team

Women

Reilly Boyt, S6/SB6/SM6

Leslie Cichocki, S14/SB14/SM14

Lindsay Grogan, S9/SB9/SM9

Sophia Herzog, S6/SB6/SM6

Serafina King, S10/NE/NE

Ahalya Lettenberger, S8/SB7/SM8

Natalie Sims, S9/SB9/SM9

Breanna Sprenger, S1/SB1/SM1

Samantha Tubbs, S9/SB9/SM9

Men

Blake Adams, S13/SB13/SM13

Rafael Castillo, S6/SB6/SM6

Lucas McCrory, S7/SB7/SM7

Tom Miazga, S8/SB7/SM8

Tyler Sharp, S9/SB9/SM9

2015 military team

Women

Elizabeth Wasil, S10/SB9/SM10