LONG Jessica

Classification
S8, SB7, SM8 (IPC, 23 Mar 2021)

Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency (medium.com, 09 Jul 2019)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (caymancompass.com, 17 Jun 2019)

Impairment Details
She was born without fibula bones, ankles or heels. Her legs were amputated below the knee at age 18 months. (pressroom.toyota.com, 29 Jan 2020; caymancompass.com, 17 Jun 2019)

General
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
In January 2018 the International Paralympic Committee [IPC] revised the classification rules which require all competitors to go through international classification before the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She says the changes have affected her performance, meaning she would compete against non-amputee competitors, and she did so at the 2019 World Championships in London, England. "It breaks my heart, having been an S8 my entire life. Being an amputee there's not much I can do with the turns. But I try to use other parts of my body like my arms or lats. I have trained so hard to be where I am at - I train with Olympic athletes and if I'm struggling to get to the top then there is something wrong." (swimswam.com, 13 Sep 2019; olympicchannel.com, 12 Sep 2019; bbc.com, 11 Sep 2019; insidethegames.biz, 10 Sep 2019)

PARALYMPIC RECOGNITION
She believes the decision by the United States Olympic Committee to change its name to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee in June 2019 will improve perception and participation levels in Para sport. "When I was on the Beijing [2008 Paralympic Games] team with my friends, we were like, 'Do you think we will ever get to that point? Do you think people will ever recognise Paralympics?' For it to be in the name, it's a huge, huge step. I am positive there are athletes out there that are very new to the Paralympic movement, and hearing the name change is going to bring in more athletes. And honestly it really is all about the next generation." (nytimes.com, 29 Jun 2019)

TAKING A BREAK
After the 2017 World Championships in Mexico City, Mexico, she took some time away from competition to coach an all-girls school swim team in Baltimore, MD, United States of America. "Seeing their work ethic and how excited they were to train in a sport I'm so passionate about was incredible. I took a step back from the sport while still being a part of the sport, and it really helped me fall in love with swimming again and confirm that I still wanted to be a part of this." (teamusa.org, 28 Mar 2018)

EARLY DAYS
Born in Siberia, Russian Federation, she was adopted by US couple Beth and Steve Long from an orphanage at age 13 months. In 2013 she travelled to Tem, Russian Federation, where she met with her biological parents. "I really dreamed of this moment. My parents in the US always told me that I was adopted. It's never been a secret to me." (dreamon.world, 19 Mar 2018; dailymail.co.uk, 16 Dec 2013; siberiantimes.com, 07 Dec 2013)

BOOK AND FILM
A photographic memoir about her life was published in June 2018. She co-wrote the book, called 'Unsinkable', with her sister Hannah. Four years earlier in 2014 a film, 'Long Way Home: The Jessica Long Story' was released during the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. In the film she returns to Siberia, Russian Federation, to visit various people and sites including her adoption centre. In February 2021 her life story featured in a 60-second TV advert that was aired in the United States of America during the NFL Super Bowl. "It's such an emotional spot [advert], it's so raw. [Featuring during the Super Bowl] is just so cool. It's one of my top three moments." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 27 Jun 2018; teamusa.org, 28 Mar 2018; olympics.nbcsports.com, 07 Feb 2021; paralympic.org, 08 Feb 2021)