Former Dundalk Swimmer Competing in International Meet

In her first competition since the 2012 London Paralympics, Middle River swimmer Jessica Long is picking up where she left off, with trips to the podium stand.

"Off to Minneapolis, Minnesota for CanAm Championships," she posted on her Facebook page Wednesday. "First time competing since London :) So excited to race."

Long, 21, is two for two in her first two races at the CanAm Championships at the University of Minnesota this weekend. The meet also serves as the U.S. National Championships, with berths in this summer's International Paralympic Committee's world championships at stake.

The double, below-the-knee amputee finished at the top of her first two preliminary races and went on to win the gold medal in both the 100 meter freestyle on Thursday and 200 meter individual medley on Friday.

Her winning time in the 100m free was one minute, 9.06 seconds, and 2:45.58 in the 200m individual medley.

Paralympic athletes compete in disability classifications to ensure that athletes with similar disabilities compete against each other.

Long, as a member of the Paralympic National Swim Team, lives and trains at the U.S. Olympic Committee's training center in Colorado Springs.

The daughter of Steve and Beth Long of Middle River got her start in competitive swimming as a member of the now-defunct Dundalk-Eastfield Swim Club, a program of the Dundalk-Eastfield Recreation Council.

She was the U.S. Paralympics swim team's most decorated swimmer at the London games, including five golds.

Long is the current U.S. Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year.

She is among the more than 200 athletes from nine countries competing at the meet that ends Saturday at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Sign up for breaking news alerts and a daily email newsleter from Dundalk Patch.

Follow Dundalk Patch on Facebook and Twitter.