Athletes often talk of the Paralympics-and para-sports, in general-in life-affirming terms. With the motto “Spirit in Motion,” the Games have emphasized the intersection of competition and inspiration. But in the year leading up to the 2016 Games, Long-whose legs were amputated just below her knees when she was 18 months old-noticed when she stepped atop the starting block that the racers up and down the line seemed more able-bodied than they had been in Athens, Beijing or London. To assure competitive balance, the governing body World Para Swimming classifies swimmers into different racing divisions, according to their physical abilities. Since becoming an internationally competitive swimmer at age 12, she had always found a way to conquer any challenge. In phone calls and visits, Steve Long had told Jessica that she needed to prepare herself for disappointment in Brazil. She felt cheated and broken, lost and wondering whether she should continue with a sport that now seemed rigged against her. As Long wept, she did not feel like a 12-time Paralympic gold-medal winner. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for one of the U.S.’s most decorated swimmers, whose singular pursuit of greatness had made her among the most marketable athletes in para-sports.

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