Decorated Team USA Paralympic Swimmer Opens Up About Healing from Anger and Brokenness

Russian-Born, Baltimore-Raised Athlete Shares Experiences with Adoption, Disability and Forgiveness in New I Am Second Short Film

Team USA’s Jessica Long is one of the most decorated U.S. Paralympic swimmers in history, boasting 23 Paralympic medals, three ESPY awards and inclusion in Sports Illustrated World’s Best Female Athletes. Yet, as shared in a new short film from storytelling organization I Am Second, despite the awards and sponsorships, Long suffered from constant feelings of unworthiness, anger and resentment until she discovered her true identity and learned to forgive.

Long was born with fibular hemimelia. She was given up for adoption by her 16-year-old Russian mother and grew up in Maryland with devoted adoptive parents who did everything they could to help the leg deformity with which she had been born.

“When I think back on my childhood, I didn’t feel adopted. I just knew I was angry that I didn’t have legs,” said Long.

At age 10, she discovered a love and talent for swimming. Two years later, at 12 years old, she became the youngest competitor on the U.S. Paralympic Team and won three gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

But even as Long’s accolades grew, including breaking 18 world records in one year and gaining sponsorships with world-renowned companies, she still felt broken and sad.

“My worth was in swimming. My identity was in swimming,” Long said. “But I realized I had no control over my life.”

It was during a church youth group meeting that Long realized she couldn’t go on alone anymore and turned to God. For the first time in her life, Long says she felt “enough.”

“Every day when I put on these prosthetics, it's almost this beautiful reminder that I can’t do everything on my own,” Long said.

She realized the experience was prepping her heart for a pivotal moment to come -- meeting her birth mom for the first time and being confronted with the choice to forgive her.

To watch Long’s full I Am Second White Chair film, visit iamsecond.com.

About I Am Second

I Am Second is a non-profit that ignites hope and inspires people to live for something greater than themselves. Launched in 2008, the iamsecond.com website features powerful short films of athletes, actors, models, musicians, cultural influencers and everyday people who have found hope through a relationship with Jesus. Watch their stories and find out more at iamsecond.com.