Swimmer Jessica Long made a severe splash at her Paralympic debut on the 2004 Athens video games, successful three gold medals on the age of 12. Right this moment, the 32-year-old will compete in her sixth Paralympic Video games in Paris with 29 medals below her belt, making her probably the most adorned and high-profile Paralympians up to now.
Lengthy can be a speaker, writer (of a youngsters’s ebook and the brand new Beyond The Surface: A Gold Medalist’s Guide To Finding And Loving Yourself), and has appeared in nationwide advert campaigns for the likes of Therabody and Skims. In the course of the 2021 Superbowl, Toyota aired a moving (read: sob-inducing) ad that tells the story of Lengthy’s adoption from Siberia, double amputation of her decrease legs, and journey to changing into a swimmer. She doesn’t take the visibility calmly.
“I would like the Paralympics swimming motion to develop much more than it has, and I hold pondering, if not me, then who else will push the motion ahead?” Lengthy says.
“I hold pondering, if not me, then who else will push the motion ahead?”
Particularly, she needs extra primetime airtime for the Paralympics, elevated stipends, and for the Crew USA Paralympic trials to be held alongside Olympic trials. She acknowledges the positive aspects Paralympians have achieved currently, together with large sponsorships in addition to getting equal pay for medals to Olympic athletes (a change as of the Tokyo Olympics), however nonetheless feels the Paralympic video games and athletes have a methods to go to get the popularity they deserve.
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“That is form of been my hope since I used to be just a little woman, that folks know what the Paralympics are,” Lengthy says. “The phrase ‘para’ means ‘parallel’ to the Olympic Video games. We’re alongside the Olympics, and it is among the most superb and unbelievable tales and fights. I do not suppose there’s anybody who wouldn’t fall in love with the Paralympics.”
Combating for visibility is not any small feat, and to assist obtain that intention for herself and future generations, Lengthy is aware of she must be vocal on the world stage—and within the pool as a competitor, too. What allows her to do all of it?
“My wellness piece is my secret weapon,” Lengthy says. “I can practice, we’re all swimming, however what are we doing exterior of the pool that issues?”
1. She prioritizes muscle restoration
Within the mid 2010s, Lengthy was frightened she was not going to have the ability to proceed coaching with the depth she wanted as a result of the muscle pressure on her higher physique was too nice.
“As an amputee, I am solely utilizing my arms,” Lengthy says. She felt her “solely hope” to proceed pushing was to check out the percussive massaging device Theragun. Certain sufficient, she was signed to certainly one of their authentic advert campaigns, and her endorsement was private.
“Theragun and Therabody have really been life altering,” Lengthy says. “I’d not nonetheless be right here if it wasn’t for [the Theragun].”
2. She loves magnesium for sleep
Lengthy calls herself a “magnesium woman,” appreciating how she feels magnesium dietary supplements have an effect on the standard of her sleep. “Each time I take magnesium, it is most likely the deepest sleep I’ve,” Lengthy says. “I discover such a distinction.”
Taking magnesium for sleep may also help promote leisure. The nutrient may also help calm the central nervous system, which might result in falling asleep quicker and a better high quality of sleep. Lengthy takes a Usana supplement (Usana is certainly one of her sponsors), however you can even find magnesium in abundance in foods like avocado, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds.
3. She goes on “me dates”
In terms of psychological rejuvenation, lengthy likes to deal with herself with the issues she actually enjoys, on what she calls “me dates.”
“I really like taking my Epsom salt baths, my every little thing showers, simply to spend a while on myself,” Lengthy says. “It is perhaps me getting espresso after coaching or getting my nails performed or going purchasing or simply getting some enjoyable make-up at Sephora. I really like make-up. It’s about taking good care of myself mentally, but additionally simply investing time in myself, might be one of the simplest ways to explain [me dates].”
Placing on make-up, espresso, studying, and purchasing are sometimes on the “me date” agenda, however Lengthy says the actions can fluctuate. Nonetheless, the intention of spending time with herself doing the issues she actually enjoys stays the identical. And, it seems, shifting gently exterior of the pool is a part of what lets her go so quick within it.
“Life strikes at such a quick tempo, however each on occasion I notice like, ‘Oh my gosh, decelerate,’” Lengthy says. “You need to maintain your self first earlier than you can provide to others.”
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