U.S. Paralympics National Teamer and 2017 World Champion McClain Hermes has broken the American Record in the 500 yard freestyle.
Swimming at the Cary Sectionals among the teenage starpower of Claire Curzan and Regan Smith, who both broke National Age Group Records at the meet, Hermes swam a 6:38.52 in the 500 free. That swim crushes the S11 American Record in the event of 7:09.41, set in 2006 by Anessa Kemna.
Hermes holds 11 American Records in short course yards, some in S12 and some after being reclassfied to S11 (which indicates a more severe level of vision impairment). That includes the S12 Record in the 500 free that she set in 2016 in 6:03.67.
Hermes also swam 35.79 in the 50 yard free, 1:18.52 in the 100 yard free, at Sectionals
Hermes was the 2017 World Champion in the 400 free.
As a S12 McClain had some vision, she is now classed as S11 and has to wear goggles that are totally blacken out (no light can show through).
Congrats McClain! You go girl!
Witnessed the racing in Cary – so exciting to see her swim! The crowd was standing and cheering so loudly! Congratulations!!!!
What is going on in the cover photo for this article? Looks like she is racing, but what is that thing over her head?
This is how visually impaired swimmers know where the wall is. A coach taps them on the head with a stick.
It’s a tapper for visually impaired swimmers to let them know they’re approaching the walk
thank you for clarifying that point. Swimswam does a great job covering paralympic athletes and deserves lots of respect for it.