A UNITED STATES paraswimmer has tragically died at the age of 23 after a catastrophic brain bleed.
Hannah Nelson passed last weekend and it was announced by Ave Maria University in Florida, where she was on the swim team for two years.
Paraswimmer Hannah Nelson tragically dies at age 23 after suffering catastrophic brain bleedCredit: Social media
Nelson competed for USA in the Women’s 400m Freestyle at the Para Swimming World Championships Manchester in 2023Credit: Alamy
Nelson managed to finish seventhCredit: Alamy
Tributes have poured in for Nelson from her former team and team-matesCredit: Social media
She has always fought the odds. Nelson was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was 11, which led to her losing her left leg below the knee.
Prior to her diagnosis, Nelson was already a talented swimmer and refused to give up on her passion.
That led her on a path to representing her country at the World Para Championships in 2023.
A statement from US Paraswimming said: ‘The loss of Hannah Nelson is felt across our community. Hannah was a swimming program record holder at Ave Maria University.
“She proudly represented at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships and was a valued member of the U.S. Swimming team.
“Our thoughts are with her family and all who knew her.”
Nelson finished in seventh place in the 400 free (S10) at the 2023 Para Swimming World Championships and was the only American in the competition.
Ave Maria head coach Giordan Harris said: “She was a program record holder here and a true leader, team and spiritual, for our team – in the pool, in the weight room, and in our team culture.
“She was also an accomplished para swimmer, and her story impacted a lot of people well beyond our campus. She was joyful, bright, and recently found her love for the water again. Our entire community is heartbroken.’
Her Ave Maria teammate, Clare Tamisiea, added: “Personally, she was like an encouraging sister to me, someone who I always looked up to and hoped I could be like one day.
“She inspired everyone around her to become the best version of themselves by her good example. She was so loved and will always have a special place on this team and in our hearts.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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