Jessica Lengthy, Paralympic Swimmer, On Her Wellness Practices

Swimmer Jessica Lengthy made a severe splash at her Paralympic debut on the 2004 Athens video games, profitable three gold medals on the age of 12. Immediately, the 32-year-old will compete in her sixth Paralympic Video games in Paris with 29 medals underneath her belt, making her one of the vital adorned and high-profile Paralympians up to now.

Lengthy can also be a speaker, writer (of a youngsters’s e book and the brand new Past The Floor: A Gold Medalist’s Information To Discovering And Loving Your self), and has appeared in nationwide advert campaigns for the likes of Therabody and Skims. In the course of the 2021 Superbowl, Toyota aired a transferring (learn: sob-inducing) advert that tells the story of Lengthy’s adoption from Siberia, double amputation of her decrease legs, and journey to changing into a swimmer. She doesn’t take the visibility evenly.

“I would like the Paralympics swimming motion to develop much more than it has, and I maintain pondering, if not me, then who else will push the motion ahead?” Lengthy says.

“I maintain pondering, if not me, then who else will push the motion ahead?”

Particularly, she needs extra primetime airtime for the Paralympics, elevated stipends, and for the Crew USA Paralympic trials to be held alongside Olympic trials. She acknowledges the beneficial properties Paralympians have achieved currently, together with huge sponsorships in addition to getting equal pay for medals to Olympic athletes (a change as of the Tokyo Olympics), however nonetheless feels the Paralympic video games and athletes have a methods to go to get the popularity they deserve.

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“That is form of been my hope since I used to be a bit of woman, that individuals know what the Paralympics are,” Lengthy says. “The phrase ‘para’ means ‘parallel’ to the Olympic Video games. We’re alongside the Olympics, and it is a few of the most superb and unbelievable tales and fights. I do not suppose there’s anybody who wouldn’t fall in love with the Paralympics.”

Preventing for visibility isn’t any small feat, and to assist obtain that goal for herself and future generations, Lengthy is aware of she must be vocal on the world stage—and within the pool as a competitor, too. What allows her to do all of it?

“My wellness piece is my secret weapon,” Lengthy says. “I can prepare, we’re all swimming, however what are we doing exterior of the pool that issues?”

1. She prioritizes muscle restoration

Within the mid 2010s, Lengthy was nervous she was not going to have the ability to proceed coaching with the depth she wanted as a result of the muscle pressure on her higher physique was too nice.

“As an amputee, I am solely utilizing my arms,” Lengthy says. She felt her “solely hope” to proceed pushing was to check out the percussive massaging system Theragun. Positive sufficient, she was signed to one in every of their unique advert campaigns, and her endorsement was private.
“Theragun and Therabody have truly been life altering,” Lengthy says. “I’d not nonetheless be right here if it wasn’t for [the Theragun].”

2. She loves magnesium for sleep

Lengthy calls herself a “magnesium woman,” appreciating how she feels magnesium dietary supplements have an effect on the standard of her sleep. “At any time when I take magnesium, it is in all probability the deepest sleep I’ve,” Lengthy says. “I discover such a distinction.”

Taking magnesium for sleep may help promote leisure. The nutrient may help calm the central nervous system, which might result in falling asleep sooner and the next high quality of sleep. Lengthy takes a Usana complement (Usana is one in every of her sponsors), however you too can discover magnesium in abundance in meals like avocado, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds.

3. She goes on “me dates”

In terms of psychological rejuvenation, lengthy likes to deal with herself with the issues she actually enjoys, on what she calls “me dates.”

“I really like taking my Epsom salt baths, my every little thing showers, simply to spend a while on myself,” Lengthy says. “It is perhaps me getting espresso after coaching or getting my nails completed or going purchasing or simply getting some enjoyable make-up at Sephora. I really like make-up. It’s about caring for myself mentally, but additionally simply investing time in myself, might be the easiest way to explain [me dates].”

Placing on make-up, espresso, studying, and purchasing are sometimes on the “me date” agenda, however Lengthy says the actions can fluctuate. Nonetheless, the intention of spending time with herself doing the issues she actually enjoys stays the identical. And, it seems, transferring gently exterior of the pool is a part of what lets her go so quick inside it.

“Life strikes at such a quick tempo, however each every now and then I notice like, ‘Oh my gosh, decelerate,’” Lengthy says. “It’s important to deal with your self first earlier than you may give to others.”