During coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics this weekend, NBC will air a 20-minute feature on Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long. Long, widely considered one of the top Paralympians in the world, was born in Russia before being adopted by American parents and growing up in a suburb of Baltimore, MD.
The NBC feature, titled Long Way Home: The Jessica Long Story, follows the 21-year-old double-amputee on a journey back to Russia to meet her birth parents. Long tracks her childhood back to an Irkutsk, Russia orphanage, and from there to Bratsk, a Siberian town where Long, originally named Tatiana Olegovna Kirillova, meets her Russian parents as well as her biological brothers and sisters.
NBC’s press release announcing the feature described it like this:
“It’s an adventure that takes her more than 7,000 miles from the world and family she grew up knowing. From the States to Siberia, the journey is a test for her physically and mentally, but through it all Long poignantly takes us through the process of coming to grips with her Russian roots. In the end it leads her to a profound personally discovery, her two half’s have helped make her the whole individual that she is – Jessica Tatiana Long.”
You can watch one of the two short trailers for the feature at the top of this post (courtesy of NBC Olympics). The other is below:
Watch for the 12-time Paralympic gold medalist’s story on NBC this weekend. To learn more about Long, you can visit her website, JessicaLong.com.
NBC is also promoting the hashtag #WelcomeJessicaHome for those who wish to follow the story on Twitter or join in the conversation.
I just watched this story and it was beautiful.
Jessicas bio sister is so familiar looking, is she an actress or something?? Thank you if anyone has the answer
I am very sad that I didn’t here about this documentary until after it had aired. Does anyone know where I can watch it?
JESSICA LONG FEATURE was tremendously moving and such a great story. I love the background song and am wondering who the artist is and what the song title is…
Thanks,
Diane
I gave up all hope in today’s young people, but this story gave me hope again! God/Jesus is still in style!
My 16 year old son and I watched Jessica’s story together. He was also in a Russian orphanage till he was 16 months old. She was such an inspiration to him as he dreamed of returning to his orphanage some day. I sobbed, as I could feel her excitement and fear. Thank You NBC and Jessica for sharing this story and giving so many Russian adopted children a glimpse of what could be.
Amazing story,
What an awesome, powerful message of love and forgiveness! It was the best story during the Olympics – they should make a full length movie about her life!
What a moving and emotional event! I can’t even slightly fathom the emotions and feelings that transpired that day in Russia. The “reunion video” was just fantastic!