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Profiles in Courage: Jessica Long
Hat tip Tom Maguire.
Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long was honored Wednesday night in New York as the recipient of the 77th AAU Sullivan Award, presented to the USA's top amateur athlete. AAU officials, U.S. Olympic Committee members and college sports information directors voted. The other third was determined by public voting at USATODAY.com.

"It's so cool to be the first paralympian to win," said Long, who because of lower leg anomalies had her legs amputated below the knee when she was 18 months old. "It's a huge honor. I just like to swim."

Long, 15, won nine gold medals at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Durban, South Africa, last year. She had 18 world record-breaking performances on the year and holds the record in 12 events.

She was also named the U.S. Olympic Committee's 2006 Paralympian of the Year.
Posted by: Steve White 2007-04-16
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=185917