Jessica Long: Paralympian Legend
Jessica Long inspires audiences with her record-setting Paralympic career, powerful resilience story, and unwavering advocacy for inclusion, determination, and human potential.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- One of America’s most decorated Paralympic champions with 23 medals
- Author, keynote speaker, and global advocate for disability inclusion
- Adopted from Siberia; bilateral amputee from 18 months old
- Known for her compelling storytelling, resilience insights, and purpose-driven leadership
- Formats: Keynote Speaker and Paralympic Champion
- Audiences: Corporate teams, leadership groups, schools, healthcare organizations, women’s leadership events, and audiences seeking inspiration through resilience and inclusion.
- Outcomes:
- Tools for cultivating resilience in challenging environments
- Empowering reframes for adversity, identity, and possibility
- Renewed motivation to pursue goals with clarity, courage, and purpose
- Travels from: Baltimore, MD
- **Fee range: On Request
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
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
Talent Short Bio
Jessica Long is one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in history, a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and global advocate for resilience and inclusion. Born in Siberia with congenital defects in her legs and adopted at thirteen months old, Jessica underwent bilateral leg amputations at eighteen months due to fibular hemimelia. Rather than allowing her circumstances to define her, she developed an extraordinary sense of determination that fueled her rise to elite sport. Supported by her adoptive family, she embraced challenge as opportunity and began a journey that would make her a legend in Paralympic swimming.
Across a career spanning more than a decade, Jessica has earned twenty-three Paralympic medals, including thirteen gold, six silver, and four bronze, solidifying her place among the most accomplished female athletes in US history. Her story extends far beyond the pool. As a speaker and advocate, Jessica uses her platform to champion disability representation, inclusion, and the power of perseverance. Through keynote stages, media appearances, and her candid writing, she empowers audiences to face adversity with courage, pursue meaningful goals, and embrace every part of their identity.
Read Full Bio
Jessica Long is not just a name; it’s a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the human spirit. As one of America’s most decorated Paralympic champions, a captivating speaker, accomplished author, tireless advocate, and revered sports personality, Jessica Long’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
Born into challenging circumstances in the Siberian cold, burdened by congenital defects in her legs, and placed for adoption at just 13 months old, Jessica’s early life was marked by adversity. However, her story is not one of defeat but rather triumph over adversity, showcasing the remarkable heights one can reach with unwavering determination and belief in oneself.
From the moment her legs were amputated below the knee at a tender 18 months old due to a rare bone disorder known as fibular hemimelia, Jessica Long defied the odds. Supported by her loving adopted family, she refused to let her physical differences dictate the course of her life. Instead, she embraced her challenges as opportunities for growth and pursued her dreams relentlessly.
Over the years, Jessica Long has not only conquered the waters as a Paralympic swimming champion but has also emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration for people worldwide. Her resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit have propelled her to the pinnacle of her sport, earning her a place among the most revered female athletes in US history.
Her illustrious career as a Paralympic swimmer spans over a decade, during which she has amassed an impressive collection of medals and accolades. With 23 Paralympic medals to her name, including 13 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze, Jessica stands as one of the most decorated athletes in Paralympic history.
As a sought-after motivational speaker, Jessica has captivated audiences at corporate events, educational institutions, and community gatherings, sharing her journey of resilience and empowerment. Through her powerful storytelling and infectious enthusiasm, she empowers others to embrace their unique strengths, pursue their goals with unwavering determination, and never lose sight of their dreams.
Jessica Long’s story captured the hearts of millions when it was featured in one of the most well-received Super Bowl commercials of 2021. The commercial not only highlighted her remarkable journey but also showcased the deep connections she shares with her partners, further cementing her status as a beloved sports personality and inspirational figure.
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Talent Videos
Jessica Long | Team USA Paralympics Feature by Sports Illustrated
A concise Sports Illustrated spotlight on Jessica Long as she prepares for her fourth Paralympic Games, highlighting her early start, global dominance, and motivation for Rio 2016.
Video Summary & Key Moments
In this short Sports Illustrated feature, Jessica Long reflects on a Paralympic career that began when she was just twelve years old. She shares her excitement and determination as she prepares for her fourth Games in Rio, building on the momentum of her standout performance in London, where she won five gold medals in her third Paralympics. Now twenty-four, Jessica has continued to establish herself as a powerhouse in international swimming, taking four golds at the most recent world championships and earning recognition as USA Swimming’s Disability Swimmer of the Year.
The clip underscores her commitment to training, her mindset when competing against the best athletes in the world, and the motivation that drives her to continue representing Team USA at the highest level. Through brief but compelling visuals and narration, the piece offers an inside look at Jessica’s preparation, competitive fire, and ongoing pursuit of excellence.
Key Moments
- 00:08 She reflects on her London performance, winning five gold medals in her third Games.
- 00:18 Highlights her four world-championship golds and recognition as Disability Swimmer of the Year.
- 00:26 Sports Illustrated frames her preparation for her fourth Paralympic Games in Rio.
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