Jarrett

Perry

Entering the 2008 Paralympic Games, Jarrett Perry was the defending Paralympic and World Championships gold medalist in the 100m backstroke S9. As his best event, Perry had high hopes for securing another gold medal. However, in one of the best swim races in Beijing, Perry won bronze and missed the gold by only .32 seconds.

After winning silver in the 100 at the 2002 World Championships, Perry won the gold in Athens in 2004 and established a stronghold on the event, setting world records in the race several times since. He is also the world record holder in the 200m backstroke.

Perry was diagnosed at birth with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a disease in which one child receives more blood than the other through blood vessels in the placenta. As a result of the disorder, his leg was amputated to prevent further infection.

Perry is sponsored by Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, which helped pay for his leg supplies. In return, Perry helps Hanger at expos by answering questions from physical therapy students and helping people walk.

When he completes his swimming career, Perry wants to earn his degree, enter the field of aeronautical engineering and receive his commission from the U.S. Army.

Major Achievements:

• 2008: Bronze medal, 100m Backstroke S9 - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
• 2007: World record, 200m Backstroke - U.S. Paralympics Open Swimming Championships, College Park, Md.
• 2006: Gold medal, 100m Backstroke (WR); Bronze medal, 4x100m medley relay - International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships, Durban, South Africa
• 2006: First place, 100m Breaststroke; Second place, 100m Freestyle; Third place, 400m Freestyle - U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships, San Antonio, Texas 
• 2006: World record, 100m Backstroke - Can-Am Championships, London, Ontario, Canada
• 2005: Two gold medals, 100m Backstroke, 400m Freestyle - U.S. Paralympics Open Swimming Championships, Minneapolis, Minn.
• 2005: Gold medal, 100m Backstroke; Silver medal, 200m Backstroke - Visa Paralympic World Cup, Manchester, United Kingdom
• 2004: Gold medal, 100m Backstroke - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece
• 2004: First place, 100m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke; Third place, 400m freestyle - U.S. Paralympic Team Trials, Minneapolis, Minn.
• 2004: Second place, 200m Backstroke - Oz Classic, Wichita, Kan.
• 2004: Seventh place, 200m Backstroke - Colorado State Games, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• 2004: Eleventh place, 200m Backstroke - Missouri Valley Sectionals, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• 2003: Fifth place, 100m Backstroke - Kansas High School State Championships
• 2002: Silver medal, 100m Backstroke - IPC Swimming World Championships, Mar del Plata, Argentina
• 2002: Seventh place, 200m Backstroke - Central Zones Championship, Wichita, Kan.