Top U.S. Para Swimmers Head to Boise for National Championships as Highway to LA28 begins

Almost 100 of the nation’s prime Para swimmers will head to Boise, Idaho, June 12-14, for the 2026 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships on the Idaho Central Aquatic Center.

Returning for a second consecutive 12 months in Boise, the sphere will function Paralympic medalists, world champions, rising stars and newcomers seeking to make their mark on the nationwide stage, showcasing the depth and way forward for Team USA Para swimming.

The occasion will start with classification alternatives on June 11 earlier than three days of competitors, set for June 12-14. Preliminary heats will start at 9 a.m. every day, with finals scheduled for five:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7 a.m. day by day.

“The level of competition at our national championships continues to rise each year,” Amanda Duke Boulet, director of U.S. Paralympics Swimming, mentioned. “Boise will welcome Paralympic medalists, national champions and emerging athletes from across the country for three days of outstanding racing and an opportunity to see some of the best Para swimmers in the world compete.”  

The Idaho Central Aquatic Center, which opened in 2023, options an eight-lane, 50-meter competitors pool, a separate six-lane, 25-yard pool and seating for almost 1,000 spectators.

The 2026 nationwide championships come throughout an vital 12 months for Team USA Para swimmers as they measure progress, achieve race expertise and construct momentum heading into worldwide competitors later this season.

Swimmers To Watch

One 12 months after delivering some of the memorable performances of the 2025 nationwide championships, Boyd returns to Boise with loads of momentum. The Ramsey, Minnesota, native shattered a world file within the males’s SM10 400-meter particular person medley and earned Swimmer of the Meet honors. Still early in his profession, Boyd enters the meet as one in every of Team USA’s brightest younger stars.

Few athletes within the subject can match Coan’s resume. The four-time Paralympic champion and seven-time medalist has been a fixture of Team USA for greater than a decade. The subsequent chapter of Coan’s life is already taking form. Between a latest engagement and plans to start legislation college this fall, Coan is balancing main milestones away from the pool whereas remaining one of many nation’s most achieved Para swimmers.

At simply 18 years outdated, Jaffe has already achieved what many athletes spend a profession chasing. The Paris Paralympic silver and bronze medalist returns to Boise after rising as one of many breakout performers of the Paris Games. As Team USA begins its journey towards LA28, the OPTC residential swimmer will look to proceed establishing himself as one of many program’s subsequent leaders.

For most athletes, reaching the Paralympic Games could be sufficient. For Taylor Winnett, it was just the start. The Paris Paralympian and seven-time Parapan American Games medalist returns to nationals as one in every of Team USA’s prime S10 swimmers whereas coaching for her subsequent objective, finishing an Ironman.

More than a decade into her worldwide profession, Leanne Smith stays one in every of Team USA’s most achieved athletes. The Paralympic champion, world champion and world file holder has constantly delivered on the game’s largest levels. As one of many veterans of the U.S. program, Smith brings each expertise and championship pedigree to Boise.

Keegan Knott enters with momentum after incomes her first World Championships berth in 2025. The two-time Paralympian represented Team USA in each Tokyo and Paris and continues to stability collegiate swimming at Northern Arizona University with worldwide competitors. Still simply 20 years outdated, Knott stays one in every of Team USA’s most skilled younger athletes as she appears towards the following chapter of her worldwide profession.

Bennet Wong, S9

For Bennett Wong, Para swimming has at all times been near dwelling. Inspired by his older brother Braxton’s success within the sport, he’ll look to carve out his personal path whereas competing towards among the nation’s prime Para swimmers in Boise.  

After graduating from the University of Akron, Grace Nuhfer enters a brand new chapter in her swimming profession. The Paris Paralympian is now coaching with Northwestern University and coach Rachel Stratton Mills, permitting her to completely deal with her improvement as she continues to construct on her success on the nationwide and worldwide ranges.

Piper Sadowski, S14, SB14, SM14

While lots of the prime names in Boise are established Paralympians, Piper Sadowski represents the following era of U.S. Para swimming. The U23 National Team member and OPTC resident athlete has steadily climbed the ranks of American Para swimming and continues to realize helpful worldwide expertise. Nationals will present one other alternative for the Michigan native to measure herself towards among the sport’s largest names.

As Team USA appears forward to  the LA28 Paralympic Games, the nationwide championships present an vital alternative for athletes to check themselves towards the nation’s finest, achieve helpful race expertise and proceed constructing towards future worldwide success.

More data on the 2026 nationwide championships will be discovered at USParaSwimming.org. Please e mail USPara.SwimInfo@usopc.org with questions relating to the occasion.

For media requests and picture inquiries, please contact Ike Hartman at Ike.Hartman@usopc.org.

About U.S. Paralympics Swimming

U.S. Paralympics Swimming serves because the nationwide governing physique for Para swimming within the United States. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. Paralympics Swimming is a division of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. U.S. Paralympics Swimming is dedicated to selling and rising Para swimming within the United States by enabling athletes and coaches to realize sustained aggressive excellence. In addition to overseeing home competitors alternatives, U.S. Paralympics Swimming is answerable for the choice and coaching of U.S. groups for worldwide competitors together with world championships, Parapan American Games and the Paralympic Games. Para swimming for women and men has been part of the Paralympic program because the first Games in 1960 in Rome, Italy.

About the Idaho Central Aquatic Center

The Idaho Central Aquatic Center is a unprecedented neighborhood useful resource whose mission is to show and encourage athletes of all ages, skills, and backgrounds by fostering a ardour for swimming, water polo, water security and health, and all different aquatic actions.  The facility has generously donated water area to host this extraordinary occasion to additional promote the Paralympic program and Olympic motion.

About Visit Boise

Boise is a uncommon mix of accessible outside and eclectic city choices. This metropolis, with a river operating by means of it, boasts limitless recreation, fascinating and distinctive websites and sights, and various cultural choices. The mission of Visit Boise is to encourage folks to discover Boise. Find out extra at VisitBoise.com.