Swimming World Honors Jessica Long and Maksym Krypak as Paralympic Swimmers of the Year
Just after the Olympic Games ended, organizers in Tokyo started to transition the venues for the start of the Paralympic Games. When the action got underway, plenty of standouts made the Paralympics a can’t-miss event. Leading the way were the United States’ Jessica Long and the Ukraine’s Maksym Krypak. For their efforts in Tokyo, Long and Krypak have been named Swimming World’s Paralympic Swimmers of the Year.
Here is a look at what Long and Krypak achieved during the 2021 campaign.
Jessica Long, United States
The buildup to the Paralympic Games started with a Super Bowl commercial about Jessica Long, detailing her life in an emotional and captivating way. With the world watching, Long rose to the occasion at the Paralympic Games, claiming six medals, the most by any female athlete in Tokyo. She won three gold medals (100 fly, 200 IM, 400 medley relay), two silver (400 free, 100 breast) and a bronze (100 back). Long, who also was named Swimming World’s Female Paralympic Swimmer of the Year in 2011, has a record 16 Paralympic gold medals in her career and 29 total medals. The number itself is stunning, but the fact that she won Paralympic medals in all four strokes is unparalleled versatility at the highest level.
Maksym Krypak, Ukraine
Ukraine’s Maksym Krypak dominated the Tokyo Games, earning seven medals in the pool. It was tied for the most overall, but his five golds made him the most decorated swimmer at the Paralympics. It wasn’t just the wins, it was how he won. He broke world records in the S10 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 100 free, also besting the Paralympic Games record in the 200 IM and adding silver in the 50 free. Krypak has claimed 15 Paralympic medals in his career, becoming the most successful Paralympian in Ukraine history.