Solid Start For U.S. Female Swimmers, Bringing Home Three Silver Medals On Opening Night

NANTERRE, France – Ellie Marks, Christie Raleigh-Crossley and Grace Nuhfer all swam to silver medals on opening night of Para swimming at the La Defense Arena.

Marks was the first of the medal-winning trio to nab silver, doing so in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S6 final. For the 34-year-old three-time Paralympian, it was her second consecutive silver medal in the event, matching her showing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

It was also the first swim medal for Team USA at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“It’s an honor – we have a really strong and beautiful team and I’m glad that I could represent,” Marks said. “It’s a best time for me and that’s great.”

Despite setting an American Record of 32.90 seconds, Marks was defeated by Jiang Yuyan of China, who clocked a personal best of 32.59. The two competitors, who swam side by side in lanes four and five, shared a friendly exchange and smiles after the race.

“I swim against incredible women and I’m very proud of all of them, and I’m very proud to swim with them,” Marks said.

Marks – who trains out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is an active duty soldier with the U.S. Army and part of the World Class Athletes program – earned her sixth career Paralympic medal across her three editions of the Games.

“I am surrounded by wonderful people who support and believe in me, so it’s hard to not believe in myself,” she said.

Raleigh-Crossley of Toms River, New Jersey, also struck silver in the women’s 50m freestyle S10, eight hours after setting an S9 world record in her morning heat. The 37-year-old swimmer made her Paralympics debut on Thursday evening after aspiring toward three Olympic Games. She has survived a car crash and underwent brain surgery, unable to fulfill her Olympic dreams, before finding the Paralympic movement.

Chinese swimmer Chen Yi clocked an S10 world record of 27.10 seconds to defeat Raleigh-Crossley by 0.29 seconds. The New Jersey swimmer and diehard New York Yankees fan posted a time of 27.38 seconds, one-tenth of a second slower than her earlier world record of 27.28 seconds.

Nuhfer stormed to the fastest second lap of the women’s 100m butterfly S13 to attain her silver medal, surging from fourth place after 50 meters to second. Her leading final 50 split time of 33.74, was more than two-tenths of a second faster than gold medalist Carlotta Gilli of Italy.

However, the 22-year-old pride of Akron, Ohio’s finishing time of 1:03.88 was 0.61 seconds behind the Italian champion. Nuhfer was ecstatic about her race and result.

"I’m a two-flyer at heart, swimming and college at Akron, so coming here I always know I have the second 50 in the bag – I love racing, I love being a competitor, and I knew as long as I took it out strong and smooth in the first 50, I’d be able to bring it home,” Nuhfer said.

“This night has just been so fun – it’s hard to ignore all the nerves, but the support has been astounding and the crowd here is insane. Excitement really is the strongest emotion and I just feel so honored to be a part of this.” 

Nuhfer summed up Team USA’s opening night, triple silver medal performance, all unfolding in front of raucous, near capacity crowd La Defense Arena.

“Team USA has been working extremely hard and we brought the energy to these Games for sure,” Nuhfer said. “To start off with three medals is incredible and amazing. 

“We’re all stoked and super excited to be here and we can’t wait to keep this rolling,” she said.