Maryland athletes expect the Rio gold rush to continue

Much has been said about the Herculean efforts — and accomplishments — of the Maryland Olympic delegation in Rio de Janeiro.

And deservedly so. For 16 exciting, exhilarating, exhausting days, Maryland’s world-class athletes set world and Olympic records, made Olympic history (to say nothing of herstory), and stood on medal podiums more times than residents of a tiny state could ever have hoped. 

Along the way, those athletes made their families burst with pride, gave their fans much to cheer about and, perhaps most importantly, inspired a future generation of Olympians.

But the fun, excitement and state pride doesn’t end with the Closing Ceremony of the Summer Games.

The Olympic facilities are getting a much-needed rest — and perhaps the green water problem in a couple of the pools has been worked out — before nearly 4,000 disabled athletes descend upon Rio for the International Paralympic Games.

As inspiring as our able-bodied athletes are, there’s something about watching disabled individuals perform at an athletic level that puts most of us couch potatoes to shame.

The athletes who are now reporting to the Olympic Village have become world-class athletes in spite of disabilities they were either born with or received because of illness or traumatic injury. Several athletes — including Maryland’s Brad Snyder, a blind swimmer — are disabled because of injuries sustained while serving in the U.S. military. 

So while gold medalists Helen Maroulis, Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps and other Maryland Olympians are relaxing, making the talk show rounds and other personal appearances or preparing to head off to college, Paralympians Jessica Long, Becca Meyers, Daniel Romanchuk, Gail Gaeng and others are preparing to pick up where their Olympic counterparts left off.

And when the sun sets over the Paralympics, our Free State athletes are expected to be just as successful as the group they will replace in Rio.

Long, who grew up in Middle River and got her competitive swimming start with the old Dundalk-Eastfield Swim Club, will be the U.S. delegation’s most decorated Paralympian in Rio.

Jessica Long with her medal from the 100-meter breaststroke at the 2015 IPC World Championships. Photo from Facebook

She made her first Paralympics appearance as an unknown 12-year-old at the Games in Athens in 2004. Swimming under the radar at her first major international competition, Long returned home with three gold medals.

She heads to Rio after also having competed — and won— in Beijing and London.

Jessica Long trained for a time at the North Baltimore Aquatics Club. Photo from Facebook

NBC has promised unprecedented coverage of this year’s Paralympics, though the coverage will still pale in comparison to other nations’ treatment, let alone the network’s coverage of the Games just concluded.

Check out the schedule here and catch the livestream coverage here.

In the coming days, look for biographies of our athletes and tips on what to keep an eye on as they uphold Maryland pride in yet another international sports spectacle.