A year ago, Olivia Chambers was preparing for her first U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships.

She was a college freshman and still relatively new to Para swimming, having been declared legally blind during the spring of her senior year of high school. Her three-medal performance at nationals — including two titles — earned her the title of swimmer of the meet, and this summer she went on to win an astounding six medals at her debut at the world championships.

This weekend, Chambers joins with the nation’s other top swimmers for the final U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships before next summer’s Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Perennial elite contenders including Jessica Long and McKenzie Coan will be racing alongside swimmers who are just like Chambers was last year, hoping to make a big impact and gain valuable racing experience as they head into the final stretch before the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials.

Many are already coming off impressive performances this summer and fall. Some of the strongest candidates for Paris 2024 competed in August at the world championships in Manchester, England, and many up-and-comers as well as veterans returning to competition squared off at the 2023 Parapan American Games last month in Santiago, Chile.

Racing gets underway on Friday and continues through Sunday in Orlando, Florida. Here are 10 athletes to watch.

Olivia Chambers, S13/SB13/SM13

Chambers, 20, won national titles in both the 400-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley last year, and she’ll look to defend both as well as race in the 1,500-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke. This summer at the world championships the native of Little Rock, Arkansas, proved herself a highly versatile swimmer with two silver and four bronze medals across three freestyle events, one butterfly, one breaststroke and one individual medley.

10 Athletes To Watch At This Weekend’s Para Swimming National Championships

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