Biography
Started: She began competing in Para swimming in 2015. (katv.com, 13 Jun 2016)
Reason: As a child she was involved in baseball, softball, football and gymnastics before deciding to pursue swimming due to limitations with her prosthetics. "My shoulders do get sore sometimes, but once I'm in the water I feel free. In the water I have more movement. In the water, I'm like everybody else." (thefocus.news, 17 Sep 2021; onlyinark.com, 23 Sep 2021)
Ambition: To win gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (livingwithamplitude.com, 2024)
Additional Info: FAVOURITE EVENT
Her preferred event is the 200m individual medley. "I love doing all four of the strokes and sprinting all four of them. It's a lot of fun. The freestyle is the key for me. I'm able to have that extra gear and finish those races." (livingwithamplitude.com, 01 May 2020)
COACHING
She has served as an assistant swimming coach at Hendrix College in Conway, AR, United States of America. (hendrixwarriors.com, 01 Aug 2023)
RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Born in the Russian Federation, she was adopted from an orphanage at age five by US couple Kristin and Dan Gaffney and moved to Mayflower, AR, United States of America. (onlyinark.com, 23 Sep 2021)
Sporting Relatives: Her mother Kristin was a collegiate-level swimmer. (nbcsports.com, 02 Aug 2023)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateMay 1, 2000
Place of ResidenceCOLORADO SPRINGS, CO
OccupationAthlete, Coach
Languages SpokenEnglish
CoachTony Marleneanu
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 3 | 100m Backstroke - S7 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 1:22.02 |
| 3 | 400m Freestyle - S7 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 5:11.89 |
| 5 | 50m Butterfly - S7 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 35.74 |
| 8 | 100m Freestyle - S7 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 1:15.70 |
| DSQ | 200m Individual Medley - SM7 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | DSQ |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 100m Backstroke - S7 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 1:21.03 |
| 1 | 200m Individual Medley - SM7 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 2:55.28 |
| 1 | 200m Individual Medley - SM7 | 2019 | London, GBR | 2:55.98 |
| 2 | 100m Backstroke - S7 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 1:22.26 |
| 2 | 200m Individual Medley - SM7 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 3:03.07 |
| 2 | 50m Butterfly - S7 | 2019 | London, GBR | 35.67 |
| 2 | 100m Backstroke - S8 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 1:25.06 |
| 2 | 100m Breaststroke - SB6 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 1:45.72 |
| 2 | 200m Individual Medley - SM8 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 3:07.08 |
| 2 | 400m Freestyle - S8 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 5:26.51 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S8 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 34.69 |
| 3 | 50m Butterfly - S7 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 36.86 |
| 3 | 100m Freestyle - S8 | 2017 | Mexico City, MEX | 1:13.80 |
| 4 | 100m Freestyle - S7 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 1:13.86 |
| 4 | 100m Backstroke - S7 | 2019 | London, GBR | 1:23.18 |
| 4 | 400m Freestyle - S7 | 2019 | London, GBR | 5:21.99 |
| 7 | 100m Freestyle - S7 | 2019 | London, GBR | 1:14.75 |
| 9 | 100m Freestyle - S7 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 1:15.92 |
