Long was born Tatiana Olegovna Kirillova in Bratsk, Siberia and adopted at the age of 13 months. Because of fibular hemimelia, her lower legs were amputated when she was 18 months old. She learned to walk with prostheses. Long has been involved in many sports including gymnastics, cheerleading, ice skating, biking, trampoline, and rock climbing. She began swimming in her grandparents’ pool before joining her first competitive team in 2002. The next year, Long was selected as Maryland Swimming’s 2003 Female Swimmer of the Year with a Disability.
Long entered the international stage at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, winning three gold medals in swimming. Aged twelve at the time, she was the youngest competitor on the U.S. Paralympic Team.
Long had 18 world record-breaking performances in 2006. Her performance at the 2006 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Durban, South Africa where she won nine gold medals for her participation in seven individual medleys and two relays. She also held five world records which made her known from outside the world of Paralympic sport. In 2006, Long became the first Paralympic athlete selected as the AAU’s James E. Sullivan Award winner. She was honored as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 2006 Paralympian of the year and Swimming World Magazine’s 2006 Disabled Swimmer of the Year.
In 2008, Long won six medals at the Paralympics, including four gold. In addition to her four gold medals, Long set three new world records. One of her gold medals was the 100-meter freestyle, which she swam just 0.19 seconds ahead of Paralympic-record-holder and world-record-holder Israeli Keren Leibovitch.
Achievements of Jessica Long
- 2013: Won ESPY for Best Female Athlete with a Disability
- 2012: Won ESPY for Female Athlete with a Disability
- 2012: Five gold medals (100m butterfly, 400m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m indiv. medley, 100m freestyle); two silver medals (4x100m freestyle 34pts, 100m backstroke); bronze medal (4x100m medley 34pts) – International Paralympic Committee (IPC) – Paralympic Summer Games, London, England
- 2012: Named U.S. Paralympic SportsWoman of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee
- 2011: Named Disabled Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine
- 2011: Six gold medals – Can-Am Open Swimming Championship, La Mirada, California
- 2011: Nine gold medals, four world records – Pan Pacific Para Swimming Championships, Edmonton, Canada
- 2010: Seven gold medals, two silver medals, two world records – Swimming World Championships, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
- 2010: Six gold medals – Can-Am National Championships, San Antonio, Texas
- 2009: Four gold medals, four silver medals, four world records – Swimming World Championships 25m, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2008: Four gold medals, silver medal, bronze medal, three world records – Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
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2008: Recipient of Juan Antonio Samaranch IOC Disabled Athlete Award
- 2007: Selected as USA Swimming’s Disability Swimmer of the Year (Trischa L. Zorn Award)
- 2007: Recipient of the ESPN Best Female A Greece thlete with a Disability ESPY Award
- 2007: Named winner of 77th AAU James E. Sullivan Award
- 2006: Second place Rock Climbing, Speed Climbing – Extremity Games
- 2006: Named U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympian of the Year
- 2006: Named Disabled Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World magazine
- 2006: Nine gold medals, five world records – Swimming World Championships, Durban, South Africa
- 2006: Five gold medals, silver medal, four world records – Can-Am Championships, London, Ontario, Canada
- 2005: Five gold medals, bronze medal, two world records, and named Swimmer of the Meet –
- 2005 U.S. Paralympics Open Swimming Championships, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2004: Three gold medals – Paralympic Games, Athens.
Jessica Long is current world record holder in 13 Paralympic events. She is also winner of twelve gold medals in Paralympic Games. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You initially participated in gymnastics, cheer leading, ice skating, biking, trampoline, and rock climbing and began swimming in your grandparents pool. You reached the pinnacle of success in swimming by setting world record in 13 Paralympic events. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Jessica Long: There are many factors to my success. I have incredible parents who supported me along the way and who never gave up on my own hopes and dreams. They never pushed me to go to practice. They encouraged it, but it was always my choice. I appreciate them more than ever now that I’m older. Also, being an amputee has given me determination to never give up. I’ve never seen missing my legs as a disability. I have the ability to be something great, because of my so called “disability”.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: How did you feel before and after when in 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece you won three gold medals in swimming. Aged just twelve at the time, you being the youngest competitor on the U.S. Paralympic Team?
Ms. Jessica Long: I honestly was shocked I made the team at twelve. I was ranked 10th in the world and was not expected to make the team, let along come home from the Paralympic Games with three gold medals. I remember not being nervous one bit. I just knew I was swimming races and that’s what I loved to do. The whole experience was phenomenal. Being on the Paralympic team has really shaped me into the person I am today. I am not ashamed of my legs and I never will be.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Jessica Long: Besides swimming 10 practices a week, I cross train by lifting weights, doing yoga, etc. Since I am missing the lower half of both my legs, running is especially hard. I do the elliptical to get maximum strength in my legs.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Jessica Long: Being an elite athlete you can’t eat bad food and expect to perform well. I try to put the healthiest foods into my body to perform at my very best. I absolutely love oatmeal with almond butter and frozen blueberries for breakfast. It’s my favorite!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hairs. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hairs to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Jessica Long: Thank you! I take Nutrilite vitamins to maintain healthy skin. I love their hair, skin, and nails vitamin. Being a swimmer, I am constantly stuffing my hair into a cap. To replenish the ends of my hair, I use Moroccan oil. I’ve notice a huge difference since I starting using it.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding Paralympic swimming girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the field of competitive Paralympic swimming?
Ms. Jessica Long: If you are truly passionate about this sport or any other sport, you have to practice. Give it your all and don’t let anyone talk you into giving up on your dream. I also want young girls to realize how beautiful they are with or without a disability. They should never be ashamed of being different and unique.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You are world leading competitive Paralympic swimmer, media personality, model and spokesperson. How you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Ms. Jessica Long: It’s definitely not easy! Two words: time management. Keeping a detailed calendar helps me. I try to maintain balance. My family helps a lot as well. They help me remain humble with everything and to not get too caught up in the moment.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive Paralympic swimming ?
Ms. Jessica Long: My teammate and friend Erin Popovich. She is one amazing person; inside and out. I met her when I was twelve at a swim meet, and the way she acted on the pool deck was inspiring to me. She was a friend to everyone and a fierce competitor when it was time to race. I even had the privilege to compete against her in the 100 meter breaststroke. She is truly the best.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You were named winner of 77th AAU James E. Sullivan Award in 2007. How did you feel on this achievement of yours?
Ms. Jessica Long: I consider it to be one of my greatest achievements. I never expected to win. I went to the award banquet to meet the other nominees. I was up against such amazing athletes, including Michael Phelps, Apolo Ohno, and Sasha Cohen. I saw everyone clapping, then realized they were all looking at me. They called my name. I started crying immediately because in that moment, as a 14 year old, I realize I had made it. I had worked so hard and was doing what I loved most in life and no one could take that from me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Jessica Long: It is a great website with lots of fantastic information. I follow Women fitness on twitter and I love the tweets about fitness, health and beauty. It’s a good reminder to be healthy and to always love yourself.
To know more about Jessica Long: Check out at: http://www.jessicalong.org
Women Fitness Team thanks Jessica Long for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness