Mallory Weggemann, a swimmer from Eagan, Minnesota, has just won her fourth Paralympic gold medal in Paris! This time, it was extra special because her 17-month-old daughter, Charlotte, was there to watch her race. This was Mallory’s first time competing in the Paralympics as a mom, making the victory even more meaningful.
A Special Moment for a Super Mom
Mallory Weggemanncompeted in the women’s 200-meter individual medley, a swimming race where athletes have to use different strokes like butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. She set a new Paralympic record with a time of 2 minutes, 53.29 seconds, beating her own previous record. She finished the race nearly four seconds ahead of the silver medalist, Tess Routliffe from Canada. Another American swimmer, Julia Gaffney, won the bronze medal.
Before her race, Mallory Weggemann looked at a photo of herself, her husband, Jay Snyder, and their daughter on the night Charlotte was born. This photo gave her strength and reminded her of all the hard work it took to become a mom. “I thought of all the strength it took to bring her into this world,” Mallory said in a TV interview. This thought inspired her to swim her best and finish strong.
Juggling Motherhood and Swimming
Since her last Paralympics in Tokyo three years ago, Mallory and her husband have been busy raising Charlotte. They even made a movie called “Watershed” about their journey to becoming parents. Despite the challenges of being a mom and a top athlete, Mallory managed to keep training and stay focused on her swimming goals. After her preliminary race, she went back to her hotel room to breastfeed Charlotte and put her down for a nap. “No matter what I do here at the pool, to her, I’m just always mama,” Mallory said, showing that being a mom is just as important to her as winning gold medals.
Winning this gold medal means a lot to Mallory. She said, “Winning Paralympic gold as a mom is something that I’ve dreamed of. Competing as a mom is something I’ve dreamed of, but having those two things today come into fruition is such a joy and such an honor”.
What’s Next for Mallory?
Mallory isn’t done yet! She still has two more races to compete in at the Paris Paralympics: the 50-meter freestyle and the 50-meter butterfly. She is excited to keep racing and hopes to bring home more medals for Team USA.
Mallory Weggemann’s victory is a fantastic example of what you can achieve with hard work, determination, and the support of your loved ones. Her story shows that it’s possible to chase your dreams while also being a loving parent. We can all learn from Mallory’s dedication and strength!
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