Ahalya Lettenberger

Started: She began swimming at age 11 in Chicago, IL, United States of America. (Athlete, 21 Jan 2016) Reason: She used to be on softball and football teams, but from 2011 she found that she was experiencing too much pain in her hips when she played. She then tried swimming and fell in love with it immediately. "When I was a lot younger I played football and softball, but soon the fields got too big and the other kids got too fast. My neighbours recommended joining the local swim club. I love the freedom the water gives me. When I'm in the water, it's just like I'm like everybody else." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 24 Aug 2021; news.rice.edu, 03 Sep 2019; dailyherald.com, 24 Jun 2016; Athlete, 24 Nov 2014) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (ivoox.com, 30 Aug 2023) Awards: In 2023 she was inducted into the Illinois Swimming Hall of Fame in the United States of America. (usparaswimming.org, 04 Mar 2024) She was flag bearer for the United States of America at the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Championships in Manchester, England. (gomotionapp.com, 02 Aug 2023) During her collegiate career at Rice University in the United States of America, she was named the 2021/22 Margie E. Sass Scholar-Athlete of the Year. (riceowls.com, 01 Aug 2023) She was named USA Development Para Triathlete of the Year for 2017. (roadrunnersports.com, 12 May 2018) Additional Info: PARA SWIMMING COMMUNITY She says that since getting involved in Para swimming in 2012 she has been appreciative of the sport's sense of community. "We've become a big community, because we've all gone through different experiences and overcome certain obstacles, so it brings us all together. This doesn't apply to just the US. The close family feel also applies to international meets. You see different things across the deck that you won't see any other meet. You'll see something or someone that will inspire and motivate you in every corner of the pool deck. Every swimmer, parent, and fan are more empathetic and more supportive of each other. In some of the less qualified meets, you'll see people swimming for the first time, and everyone will be cheering them on. Everyone is definitely competitive, but there is still that tight-knit community feel." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 29 Jun 2019; Athlete, 21 Jan 2016) STUDIES She studied bioengineering at Rice University in Houston, TX, United States of America. "I really want to design medical devices like prosthetics and exoskeletons to help other people with disabilities. My whole reason for studying bioengineering is because of my disability and through swimming, I really learned how to accept my own disability and I really want to give that back to other people." After the 2024 Paralympic Games she is set to move to Great Britain to pursue a master's degree in sport biomechanics and another master's degree in disability, design and innovation. "I really wanted to go to the United Kingdom because they've come a long way in disability rights and they're a leader in the field of assisted technology that can help people with disabilities." (usparaswimming.org, 04 Mar 2024; riceowls.com, 11 Dec 2023; UK in Texas X profile, 11 Dec 2023; Rice University YouTube channel, 05 May 2023)