HOUSTON – Rice Owls swimmer Ahalya Lettenberger is ready to head to Paris to compete for Team USA in the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Lettenberger is the reigning silver medalist in the 200 meter Individual Medley, picking up the medal during her first Paralympic experience.
Lettenberger, who was born with arthrogryposis amyoplasia, a muscular skeletal disorder that affects her lower limbs, plans to swim 200 meters and 400 meters this year, the latter event being her favorite. She races in the SM7 category, which is for swimmers with movement affected from a low to moderate level in the arms, trunk and legs, moderately down one side, those with short stature, or the absence of limbs. All these swimmers have to work harder at stroke timing or getting hold of the water, according to LEXI - an explainer of Parasport classifications.
“It’s definitely a lot yards in the pool and a lot of time in the pool, I really enjoy it. The longer the distance the better for me,” said Lettenberger. “I like the strategy that goes into it, the longer the better for me. I think I have a better shot in the 400 free this time around and I think it’s going to be a great race.”
Lettenberger, a Chicago area native also relishes the opportunity to represent Team USA again.
“It’s such an honor to represent the United States at the biggest competition in the world,” said Lettenberger. “There really is nothing like it, and to be able to do it twice - not many people can say that, so I’m just super honored. I’m really excited because this time around there’s no COVID, so my family will be there and there’ll be people in the stands, so it’s just an incredible opportunity.”