Anastasia Pagonis

Started: She took up swimming at age 11. She stopped swimming for a year when her vision was deteriorating at age 14. "We had to find a coach that would actually train the blind girl and have faith in me. We contacted literally every single club and every single coach, and nobody wanted to train me. Until we found coach Marc Danin in Islanders Aquatics, and he just grabbed on to me. My goal was to get out of the pool without breaking my hands for the first six months. He taught me how to swim all over again." (teamusa.org, 26 Aug 2021; washingtonpost.com, 23 Aug 2021; abc7ny.com, 12 Jul 2021; Sports Illustrated YouTube channel, 18 Mar 2021) Reason: She initially played football and a retina specialist advised her to switch to swimming after her vision began to deteriorate. "My doctor recommended that I try a less contact sport, and he recommended swimming. I just fell in love with it, I was like, 'Oh OK, this is for me'. When I jump into the water, that's my happy place. That's when I feel free. When I'm out of the water, I always have to rely on someone." (abc7ny.com, 12 Jul 2021) Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (abc7ny.com, 12 Oct 2021) Additional Info: GUIDE DOG She adopted her guide dog Radar in 2020 from the New York Islanders, a National Hockey League [NHL] team in the United States of America. "I just feel so lucky to have him in my life and to take care of me and that I can be independent. He's perfect. We're a match made in heaven. I feel like I'm going to conquer the world with him. Once I got him I just felt more welcomed by the world, and my independence level sky-rocketed." (A Winning Mindset Podcast, 23 Dec 2021; cnn.com, 29 Aug 2021; Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind YouTube channel, 28 Oct 2020, 07 Oct 2020) TATTOO She has a tattoo that reads 'Perfectly Imperfect' on one of her arms. "Ever since I started losing my vision, my parents always told me that I was perfectly imperfect and that normal was boring. That stuck with me and from that time I always wanted to get that as a tattoo. I also wanted it in a visible spot for others to see so that it would start a conversation. I think it's important for people to know that they are perfect just the way they are." (Instagram profile, 26 Jan 2022)