Jessica Long Wins 17th Paralympic Gold in Paris

Jessica Long achieved a remarkable milestone by winning her 30th Paralympic medal and 17th gold in the Women's 400m freestyle S8 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, finishing with a time of 4:48.74. This victory marks her first gold in this event since London 2012 and reinforces her status as one of the most decorated U.S. Paralympians, having medaled in every Paralympics since her debut in 2004. Long expressed pride in her accomplishment, stating, 'I wanted to get to 30. That’s the goal,' and reflecting on her journey since winning her first medal at age 12. Additionally, 19-year-old Jiang Yuyan from China set a new world record in the S7 100m freestyle, recording a time of 1:09.68. The event saw ticket sales soar, reaching 2.3 million, highlighting the growing support for the Paralympic Games. Long's achievement not only adds to her extensive medal collection but also continues to inspire athletes worldwide.