U.S. Paralympics has named the 2013 National “A” and “B” Teams for Paralympic swimming, and in the post-Paralympic year it is headlined by some huge names, including World Record holders Jessica Long, Victoria Arlen, Mallory Weggemann, Brad Snyder, and Justin Zook.
The criteria for being named to this year’s “A” team was being a medalist at last year’s Paralympic Games; making the “B” team required qualifying for the Paralympic Team and finishing in the top 8 (and within 3% of the winning swimmer’s time). Athletes can be added to these rosters throughout the year by hitting the National Team “A” or “B” standards, or by winning a medal at the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships.
Making these teams can be a huge financial boon for athletes; though surely not enough to support them fully, Paralympics/World Championship medalists receive a monthly stipend of $800; those athletes who meet the National A Team Standard receive a $500 monthly stipend; and B Team members receive a $300 monthly stipend. In addition, National Team athletes can receive up to $1,750 in travel stipends to attend certain select elite-level meets, insurance, and housing/food support for training at the National Training Center.
Further money can be earned by setting a Paralympic World Record in a Paralympic event ($500) and a World Record at this year’s World Championships ($1,000).
More about this year’s Athlete and Sport Program is available here.
Read more about 2013 Long Course Championships qualifying procedures here.
2013 National A Team
Women
| Name | Hometown | Class |
| Victoria Arlen | Exeter, N.H. | S6/SB5/SM6 |
| Kelley Becherer | Sheboygan, Wis. | S13/SB13/SM13 |
| Cortney Jordan | Henderson, Nev. | S7/SB7/SM7 |
| Jessica Long | Baltimore, Md. | S8/SB7/SM8 |
| Rebecca Meyers | Timonium, Md, | S13/SB13/SM13 |
| Noga Nir-Kistler | Allentown, Pa. | S6/SB5/SM6 |
| Susan Beth Scott | Cape Girardeau, Mo. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
| Elizabeth Stone | Grand Rapids, Mich. | S9/SB8/SM9 |
| Mallory Weggemann | Eagan, Minn. | S7/SB6/SM7 |
Men
| Name | Hometown | Class |
| Tucker Dupree | Raleigh, N.C. | S12/SB12/SM12 |
| Rudy Garcia-Tolson | Riverside, Calif. | S8/SB7/SM7 |
| Lantz Lamback | Augusta, Ga. | S7/SB7/SM7 |
| Roy Perkins | Del Mar, Calif. | S5/SB4/SM5 |
| Ian Silverman | Baltimore, Md. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
| Brad Snyder | St. Petersburg, Fla. | S11/SB11/SM11 |
| Justin Zook | Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
2013 National B Team
Women
| Name | Hometown | Class |
| Anna Eames | Golden Valley, Minn. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
| Anna Johannes | Alexandria, Va. | S9/SB8/SM9 |
| Colleen Young | St. Louis, Mo. | S13/SB13/SM13 |
Men
| Name | Hometown | Class |
| Cody Bureau | Latrobe, Pa. | S9/SB9/SM9 |
| Joe Wise | Menlo Park, Calif. | S10/SB9/SM10 |
It’s a shame our Para Olympic Athletes aren’t supported like Great Britain’s!