Sports Personality • Author
Paralympic
Swimmer
Paralympic
Medals
ESPY Award
Winner
About Jessica
Jessica Long is one of America’s most decorated Paralympic champions, a speaker, author, advocate, and sports personality.
Jessica’s life has been nothing short of amazing. Born to a teenage mother in the Siberia cold, burdened by congenital defects in her legs, and placed for adoption at 13 months old, Jessica was able to persevere to become one of the most decorated female athletes in US history. However, it was not without setbacks. At just 18 months old, Jessica’s legs were amputated below the knee due to a rare bone disorder called fibular hemimelia, but her adopted family would not let her physical differences limit her potential. With an unrelenting determination and belief in herself, Jessica has been able to reach the pinnacle of her sport and maintain her position amongst the best in the world for over a decade. Now as one of America’s most decorated champions, her work focuses on winning in the water and inspiring others outside the pool. It’s through her struggles that she has learned to grow and thrive as a champion and person, and her message of hope resonates with all walks of life.
In fact, Jessica’s story inspired the most well received Super Bowl commercial of 2021, which highlights her story and the deep connections she has with her partners. Watch it below!
LEADERSHIP
StrongHER: How women are uniquely positioned for leadership
Consistency: How creating positive, healthy environments can lead to amazing results
Ownership: How to own your future by making changes today
Diversity & Inclusion: Why it’s important to reflect on our differences, and how to best meet everyone where they are
MINDSET
Mindset: How to develop a tough mindset to withstand anything
Pain into Purpose: How Jessica turned pain into purpose and how you can too
Growth: How to embrace change for a better tomorrow
Resiliency: How scar tissue serves as reminder our bodies and minds are more powerful than we could ever imagine
Positivity: What the power of positivity means to getting what you want out of life
INSPIRATION
Jessica’s story: How a child from Siberia, with the odds stacked against her, became a champion
Secrets to success: How to make your future different than your today begins with your perspective
Finding your passion: What passion means and how to create it
Goal setting: What it means to make big goals and how to boldly chase after them
“I choose to look at my life in a positive way. If I wasn’t missing my legs, I may not have found swimming.”
JESSICA LONG
Accomplishments & Recognition
- America’s second-most decorated Paralympian
- Five-time Paralympian (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2021)
- Thirteen-time Paralympic champion (2016: 200m IM; 2012: 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m IM, 400m freestyle; 2008: 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m IM, 400m freestyle; 2004: 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 34 pt. 4x100m freestyle)
- Twenty nine-time Paralympic medalist (thirteen golds, six silvers, four bronzes)
- Fifty two-time world championship medalist (thirty five golds, fifteen silvers, two bronzes)
- Three-time ESPY winner
- 77th AAU James E. Sullivan Award winner