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Olivia Chambers

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Olivia Chambers
Personal information
Born (2003-04-11) April 11, 2003 (age 21)
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Sport
SportParalympic swimming
Disability classS13, SB13, SM13
College teamUniversity of Northern Iowa
Medal record
Women's para swimming
Representing the  United States
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Paralympic Games 1 2 0
World Championships 0 2 4
Total 1 4 4
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris 400 m freestyle S13
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris 100 m breaststroke SB13
Silver medal – second place 2024 Paris 200 m medley SM13
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2023 Manchester 200 m medley SM13
Silver medal – second place 2023 Manchester 400 m freestyle S13
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 100 m breaststroke SB13
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 100 m butterfly S13
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 50 m freestyle S13
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Manchester 100 m freestyle S13

Olivia Chambers (born April 11, 2003) is a visually impaired American Paralympic swimmer, who competes in the S13 classification. She won a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[1][2]

Career

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2022

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Chambers competed in her first para-specific swim meet in early May at the Bill Keating Cincinnati Para-Swimming Open. She achieved times fast enough to be named to the U.S. Para Swimming National Team. In July, Chambers recorded her first U.S. Para Swimming American Record in the 400-meter individual medley S13 at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [3]

In October, Chambers made her international debut at the Citi Para Swimming World Series in Tijuana, Mexico. Recording personal best times in both events, she claimed a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly, her first international medals. Chambers also swam the 100-meter backstroke, finishing fourth.[4]

At the 2022 U.S. Paralympic National Championships, she won gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly.[5] She was subsequently named the Swimmer of the Meet by virtue of having the best overall point total among competing athletes.[6]

2023

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On January 24, 2023, Chambers was named to the 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Team roster.[7] On April 29, 2023, she was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships.[8] She won a medal in all six events she competed in, to lead the United States in medals.[9] On the first day of the competition she won a bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly S13 event. On the second day she won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke SB13 event. On the third day she won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle S13 event, with a career-best time of 1:00.12. After an off day, on the fifth day she won a bronze medal in the 50 m freestyle S13 event. On the sixth day she won a silver medal in the 400 m freestyle S13 event. On the final day of the competition she won a silver medal in the 200 m individual medley SM13 event.[10]

2024

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On June 30, 2024, Chambers was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[11] At the Paralympics she won a gold medal in the 400 metre freestyle S13 event and silver medals in the 100 metre breaststroke SB13 and 200 metre individual medley SM13 events.[12][13]

In December at the U.S. Para Swimming National Championships, Chambers established a new World Record and personal best in the 1500-meter freestyle S13 with a 17:48.60, lowering her previous record by over five seconds. In the process, her initial 800-meters of the race set a new World Record in the 800-meter freestyle S13 at 9:29.21.[14]

Personal life

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Chambers began losing her vision in August 2019 when she was 16 and was declared legally blind.[15] She was later diagnosed with multiple mitochondrial gene deletion syndrome.[16][17] Chambers has a guide dog named Mahi. She and her dog have been paired together since late August 2023.[18]

Record swims

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No. Type Event Time Location Date Status Ref
1 American 400 m ind medley 5:21.68 Minneapolis, MN July 28, 2022 Former [3]
2 American 400 y ind medley 4:29.27 Topeka, KS November 19, 2022 Former
3 American 50 y back 27.87 Sioux Falls, SD February 4, 2023 Former
4 American 200 y fly 2:10.99 Sioux Falls, SD February 4, 2023 Former
5 American 50 y back 26.53 Iowa City, IA February 15, 2023 Current
6 American 1000 y free 10:20.93 Iowa City, IA February 18, 2023 Former
7 American 400 m ind medley 5:12.62 Cedar Falls, IA July 6, 2023 Current
8 American 200 m fly 2:31.50 Cedar Falls, IA July 7, 2023 Former
9 American 500 y free 4:58.42 Morgantown, WV November 16, 2023 Former [19]
10 American 400 y ind medley 4:27.77 Morgantown, WV November 17, 2023 Former [19]
11 American 200 y fly 2:08.61 Morgantown, WV November 18, 2023 Former
12 World 1500 m free 17:53.84 Orlando, FL December 16, 2023 Former [20]
13 American 1000 y free 10:19.74 Evansville, IN February 24, 2024 Former
14 American 500 y free 4:57.04 Iowa City, IA November 21, 2024 Current [21]
15 American 100 y back 58.18 Iowa City, IA November 21, 2024 Current
16 American 400 y ind medley 4:26.82 Iowa City, IA November 22, 2024 Former
17 American 400 y ind medley 4:24.65 Iowa City, IA November 22, 2024 Current
18 American 1000 y free 10:16.29 Iowa City, IA November 23, 2024 Current
19 World 800 m free 9:29.21 Orlando, FL December 14, 2024 Current [14]
20 World 1500 m free 17:48.60 Orlando, FL December 14, 2024 Current [14]

References

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  1. ^ "Olivia Chambers". paralympic.org. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. ^ "Olivia Chambers". teamusa.com. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Olivia Chambers sets Para American record". unipanthers.com. August 7, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Olivia Chambers competes in Para World Series". unipanthers.com. October 14, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  5. ^ Keith, Braden (December 19, 2022). "Olivia Chambers Adds a 2nd Win to Wrap US Para-Swimming Nationals". swimswam.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Olivia Chambers wins two titles at U.S. Paralympic National Championships". unipanthers.com. December 19, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "College swimming: UNI's Chambers named to U.S. Paralympic National Team". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. January 24, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (April 28, 2023). "Paralympic, world champions headline 2023 world championships roster". usparaswimming.org. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Price, Karen (August 10, 2023). "Roundup: Behind The Scenes At Worlds With U.S. Swimmers". usparaswimming.org. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "Olivia Chambers shines in Para Swimming World Championship debut". unipanthers.com. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (June 30, 2024). "U.S. Paralympics Swimming Roster Announced for 2024 Paralympic Games". usparaswimming.org. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Roberts, Adam (September 3, 2024). "Arkansas' Olivia Chambers wins gold in Paris Paralympics". 4029tv.com. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Miller, Vanessa (September 5, 2024). "Northern Iowa Paralympic swimmer wins gold, silver in Paris". The Gazette. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Chambers smashes world record on second day of national championships". usparaswimming.org. December 14, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Brown, Chelsie (January 15, 2023). "Despite losing vision, UNI's Chambers still crossing the finish line first". kcrg.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  16. ^ Shinn, Peggy (July 20, 2023). "Just A Year After Competing in Her First Para Swim Meet, Olivia Chambers Is A Medal Contender at Para Swimming World Championships". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  17. ^ Promnitz, Donald (February 5, 2023). "Despite the loss of her sight, UNI's Chambers finds purpose in the pool". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Promnitz, Donald (October 19, 2023). "Guide dog raises UNI swimmers' spirits". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "UNI swim and dive sets three school records at West Virginia Invitational". unipanthers.com. November 19, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  20. ^ "Chambers sets world record at U.S. Paralympic Swimming National Championships". unipanthers.com. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  21. ^ "Multiple records falls for UNI swim & dive at Hawkeye Invitational". unipanthers.com. November 23, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
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