Raleigh swimmer qualifies for Tokyo Paralympic Games :: WRALSportsFan.com
Minneapolis – As the youngest American swimmer to win a medal at the 2016 Olympics or Paralympics, Hannah Aspden from Raleigh had a lot to do. She won bronze twice in Rio at just 16, and now at 21, she’s headed to Tokyo.
Last week, Aspden competed in a three-day US Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She placed first in the 100-meter backstroke (1: 09.48) Thursday, 100-meter freestyle (1: 03.87) Friday and 50-meter free on Saturday. She also swam the 200 IM on Saturday, finishing second.
Aspden graduated from Leesville Road High School in 2018. Born with a congenital hip disarticulation and no left leg, she has been swimming since the age of five. She is currently attending Queens University Charlotte, studying journalism and digital media, and is expected to graduate in 2022.
His swimming accomplishments include bronze in the 100-meter backstroke at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and the 4×100 medley relay. She won silver in the 4×100 medley relay while representing the United States at the 2018 Pan-Pacific Para-swimming Championship and won two gold and two silver at the world championships in 2015 and 2017.
In addition to swimming competitions, Aspden also participated in Swim Across America at Lake Norman to raise money for cancer.