Teenager Dillon Mezey Is All Over The American Report Books After A Dazzling Efficiency At Nationals

Dillon Mezey thought he had an opportunity to interrupt a pair of American data on the 2026 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Championships. 

 

But why cease there? 

 

As quickly as Mezey shattered one file at nationals — held June 12-14 in Bosie, Idaho — he needed to know the way far-off he was from setting a file in his subsequent two occasions after that. The highschool freshman from Colorado Springs, Colorado, gained confidence because the meet progressed and believed he might sustain his record-breaking tempo. 

 

“I knew I was close to at least two of the records, so I kind of went into it hoping to just break those two,” stated Mezey, who turned 14 on May 14. “And then the rest followed.” 

 

Mezey bought off to a quick begin in Boise, breaking the American file within the males’s 50-meter butterfly S3 race by greater than 40 seconds when he posted a time of 1 minute, 2.02 seconds. He then set one other American file within the 50 freestyle by touching the wall in 54.72 seconds. 

 

By the tip of the weekend, Mezey had added his title throughout the U.S. file books. He set American data at nationals in the 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 150 particular person medley. 

 

“I was definitely surprised,” Mezey stated of breaking his first American file. “And it kind of did give me like a sense of ‘Oh, I can get further in this and break more records and do more in the sport.’” 

 

Kristin Mezey, Dillon’s mom, stated she felt a way of satisfaction as she sat within the Idaho Central Aquatic Center and watched as her teenage son loved a breakout efficiency within the pool.  

 

Dillon was born a congenital amputee with no legs, a proper arm that stops on the elbow and three fingers on his left hand. He normally competes in opposition to able-bodied swimmers, however he confirmed at nationals that he’s a promising Para swimmer on the worldwide stage. 

 

Dillon stated he hopes to sometime qualify for the Paralympics, maybe as quickly because the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games when he’ll be 16 years previous. His lofty objectives don’t finish there, although. He’d prefer to see how far he can go in swimming and in the end win a gold medal within the sport. 

 

Coincidentally, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee relies in Dillon’s hometown of Colorado Springs. 

 

“I’m proud of his hard work and his commitment and just blessed and thankful because he’s a great kid and he knows what his goals are and what he’s excited about,” Kristin stated. “And it’s just really fun to see him meet some of those.” 

 

Kristin competed as a swimmer in highschool, and he or she later put all 4 of her youngsters within the pool at a younger age. Dillon stated the liberty he felt whereas gliding by way of the water and out of his wheelchair immediately hooked him. 

 

“I think I instilled the love of swimming for sure,” Kristin stated. “I don’t think I was as good of a swimmer as he is.” 

 

Dillon began taking swimming classes when he was round 3-4 years previous, and he started racing for the Falfins swim workforce in Colorado Springs at age 7. He usually swam at the least four-five days per week as a child. 

 

“I loved it the second I got in the pool,” Dillon stated. “I loved it.” 

 

Once he began racing, Mezey stated he needed to succeed in the extent the place he might sometime compete for a spot on the U.S. Paralympics Swimming nationwide workforce. He took half in swim occasions with the Challenged Athletes Foundation in San Diego, which is the place he met five-time Paralympian Rudy Garcia-Tolson. 

 

Garcia-Tolson, who’s additionally from Colorado Springs, received Paralympic medals in swimming, together with two golds. He was outgoing and interacted with the younger swimmers in San Diego, and Dillon began wanting as much as him. 

 

Garcia-Tolson was born with a number of beginning defects, together with a membership foot and webbed fingers. Dillon, in the meantime, stated he has had no bother swimming along with his beginning defects. 

 

“It’s kind of just been a little bit of a second nature,” Dillon stated. “It’s not too hard from the start and just got faster over time at it.” 

 

In addition to swimming, Dillon has not too long ago began enjoying sled hockey. Though some athletes compete in each the Summer and Winter Paralympics, Dillion plans to prioritize breaking data within the pool.   

 

“That would be really cool to compete in both,” he stated, “but the focus is definitely swimming.” 

 

Alex Abrams has written about Olympic sports activities for greater than 15 years, together with as a reporter for main newspapers in Florida, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He is a contract contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.