U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, has announced that 14 athletes, including six reigning world champions, have been named to the 2015 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National A Team. Twelve athletes were named to the B team, with an additional 15 athletes named to the emerging and military teams.
The 2015 national A team has several veteran swimmers on the roster. Six of the athletes won world titles in 2013: Cortney Jordan, Jessica Long, Rebecca Meyers, Roy Perkins, Tucker Dupree, and Ian Silverman. Long is the most decorated female athlete with 17 Paralympic medals, and Perkins is the most decorated male athlete with six. Brad Snyder, a 2012 London Paralympic Games gold medalist and U.S. Navy veteran, also returns to the roster this year.
Letticia Martinez, Colleen Young, and Curtis Lovejoy also made the A team for the second straight year. Michelle Konkoly, who was initially named to the 2014 B team but moved to the National A Team for the 2014 Pan-Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, also returns to the roster.
Tharon Drake and Cody Bureau moved up from last year’s B team. Kayla Wheeler made the jump from the 2014 emerging team. Additional athletes may be added to the team rosters throughout the season. “With [the 2016 Paralympic Games in] Rio [de Janeiro, Brazil] right around the corner, we are thrilled to have such a gifted group of athletes,” said Queenie Nichols, high performance director for U.S. Paralympics swimming.