Community Corner
Jessica Long Wins Her Fifth Paralympic Gold Medal
The Middle River swimmer won the 100-meter freestyle in London, defending the titles won in Athens and Beijing.
Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long continued her golden ways Thursday when she won the 100-meter freestyle (S8 disability classification) at the International Paralympics in London.
Long broke her own world record to earn her fifth gold medal and seventh overall medal of the games.
The Middle River resident and former Dundalk-Eastfield Swim Club member is tied with Australian swimmer Jacqueline Freney for the most medals earned by an individual athlete during the 2012 Paralympic Games, according to a statement from the United States Olympic Committee.
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She is the most decorated American athlete in London, according to the USOC, with five golds and two silvers.
Her gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle is a three-peat for the champion swimmer; she won the event in Athens in 2004 as a 12-year-old, defended her title in Beijing in 2008 and defended it again last night.
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Long has one more chance for London gold—she is a member of the 4X100 medley relay team that competes tonight.
"Just one more race, then McDonald's," she wrote on her Facebook page. "Om nom nom …"
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