Olivia Chambers Explained

Olivia Chambers
Disability Class:S13, SB13, SM13
Sport:Paralympic swimming
Birth Date:11 April 2003
Birth Place:Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Show-Medals:yes

Olivia Chambers (born April 11, 2003) is a visually impaired American Paralympic swimmer.[1]

Career

At the 2022 U.S. Paralympic National Championships, she won gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly.[2] She was subsequently named the Swimmer of the Meet by virtue of having the best overall point total among competing athletes.[3]

On January 24, 2023, Chambers was named to the 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Team roster.[4] On April 29, 2023, she was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.[5] She won a medal in all six events she competed in, to lead the United States in medals.[6] On the first day of the competition she won a bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly S13 event. On the second day she won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke SB13 event. On the third day she won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle S13 event, with a career-best time of 1:00.12. After an off day, on the fifth day she won a bronze medal in the 50 m freestyle S13 event. On the sixth day she won a silver medal in the 400 m freestyle S13 event. On the final day of the competition she won a silver medal in the 200 m individual medley SM13 event.[7]

Personal life

Chambers began losing her vision in August 2019 when she was 16 and was declared legally blind.[8] She was later diagnosed with multiple mitochondrial gene deletion syndrome.[9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olivia Chambers . paralympic.org . August 11, 2023.
  2. Web site: Olivia Chambers Adds a 2nd Win to Wrap US Para-Swimming Nationals . swimswam.com . Braden . Keith . December 19, 2022 . August 11, 2023.
  3. Web site: Olivia Chambers wins two titles at U.S. Paralympic National Championships . unipanthers.com . December 19, 2022 . August 11, 2023.
  4. Web site: College swimming: UNI's Chambers named to U.S. Paralympic National Team . . January 24, 2023 . August 11, 2023.
  5. Web site: Paralympic, world champions headline 2023 world championships roster . usparaswimming.org . Kristen . Gowdy . April 28, 2023 . August 11, 2023.
  6. Web site: Roundup: Behind The Scenes At Worlds With U.S. Swimmers . usparaswimming.org . Karen . Price . August 10, 2023 . August 11, 2023.
  7. Web site: Olivia Chambers shines in Para Swimming World Championship debut . unipanthers.com . August 6, 2023 . August 11, 2023.
  8. Web site: Despite losing vision, UNI’s Chambers still crossing the finish line first . kcrg.com . Chelsie . Brown . January 15, 2023 . August 11, 2023.
  9. Web site: Just A Year After Competing in Her First Para Swim Meet, Olivia Chambers Is A Medal Contender at Para Swimming World Championships . teamusa.com . Peggy . Shinn . July 20, 2023 . August 11, 2023.
  10. Web site: Despite the loss of her sight, UNI's Chambers finds purpose in the pool . . Donald . Promnitz . February 5, 2023 . August 11, 2023.