Lawrence Sapp Explained

Lawrence Sapp
Birth Date:5 September 2001
Birth Place:Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in
Weight:185 lbs
Disability:Autism
Disability Class:S14, SB14, SM14
Sport:Paralympic swimming
Show-Medals:yes

Lawrence Sapp (born September 5, 2001) is an American Paralympic swimmer. He represented the United States at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Career

Sapp made his international debut for the United States at the World Para Swimming Championships in 2017 where he won a gold medal in the 100 metre backstroke S14 event.[1] He again competed at the World Championships in 2019 and won a silver medal in the 100 metre butterfly S14 event.[2]

Sapp represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics where he finished in fifth place in the 100 metre butterfly S14 event.[3] He became the first man to compete at the Paralympics in the S14 classification for team USA.[4] [5]

On April 29, 2023, Sapp was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. During the World Championship he finished in seventh place in the 100 metre butterfly S14 event.[6] [7]

On June 30, 2024, Sapp was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[8]

Personal life

Sapp was born to Carlton and Dee Sapp. He has autism and an intellectual impairment.[9] After Sapp failed his driving test at least 20 times, his mother asked for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for him to be given a version of the test he had practiced with. His experience led Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration to change the test and make it more accessible for everyone.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: North Point sophomore Sapp qualifies for U.S. National Paralympics Swim Team . somdnews.com . Ted . Black . September 29, 2017 . July 5, 2024.
  2. Web site: The Next Step For Lawrence Sapp? Taking On Collegiate Swimming At UMSL . usparaswimming.org . Bob . Reinert . September 14, 2023 . July 5, 2024.
  3. Web site: How UC student Lawrence Sapp cleared the lane to the Tokyo Paralympic Games . . Jayna . Bardahl . August 23, 2021 . July 5, 2024.
  4. Web site: Lawrence Sapp: Making History One Stroke At A Time . Swimming World Magazine . Sadie . Jones . February 26, 2022 . July 5, 2024.
  5. Web site: First-Timers Shine For Team USA In Butterfly Events On Day One Of Para Swimming In Tokyo . teamusa.com . Katie . Grunik . August 25, 2021 . July 5, 2024.
  6. Web site: U.S. Paralympics Swimming Selects 22 (Including Just 6 Men) for 2023 Worlds Roster . swimswam.com . Riley . Overend . April 29, 2023 . July 5, 2024.
  7. Web site: Stickney’s second world title caps four-medal final night for Team USA in Manchester . usparaswimming.org . Kristen . Gowdy . August 6, 2023 . July 5, 2024.
  8. Web site: U.S. Paralympics Swimming Roster Announced for 2024 Paralympic Games . usparaswimming.org . Kristen . Gowdy . June 30, 2024 . July 5, 2024.
  9. Web site: Lawrence Sapp hopes to make a splash at the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo . uc.edu . Angela . Koenig . April 7, 2021 . July 5, 2024.
  10. Web site: An autistic man kept failing Maryland’s driver’s test. Officials changed it. . . Justin . Moyer . September 26, 2023 . July 5, 2024.