Paralympian Mallory Weggemann Swims at Nationals Six Months Pregnant

Sharing the places and things you love with baby during your pregnancy is such a special feeling. While some parents may take baby on an adventure to a sentimental place or introduce them to their favorite music, Mallory Weggemannn is taking things up a notch by taking her baby along for the ride during the US Para-Swimming National Championship.

The five-time Paralympic medalist recently swam in the national competition at six months pregnant. Not only did she compete, but she also earned second place in the 50m butterfly. Crushing the feat in just 40.01 seconds.

But for Weggemann, the event was less about the medals and more about the time spent with her little one. “I’m sharing one of the things I love most in this world with our child,” Weggemann told NBC Sports. The Limitless author also hopes her participation in the national championship speaks to what women and individuals with disabilities are capable of.

“When I get on those blocks, and I dive off with my wheelchair beside me, that is about something so much bigger than baby and I. In terms of what it can show for a path forward for other individuals, and, frankly, what it can do to help change the perception of what’s possible,” she said.

While Weggemann is a shining example of making the impossible possible, that doesn’t mean the road to her dreams has been easy. In an August Instagram post announcing her pregnancy, the ESPY award winner opened up about her difficult journey toward getting pregnant.

“Two egg retrievals, a microTESE surgery, hormonal treatment for suspected endometriosis, an unsuccessful transfer, a mock transfer cycle, an operative hysteroscopy and 440 injections (and counting)—it has taken science, the best care team there is and a lot of love and here we are with our little miracle on the way,” Weggemann added in the caption.

The motivational speaker and her husband, Jay Synder, will welcome their little one in March 2023, just a year or so before the 2024 Paris Paralympics and her first chance to bring home a gold medal as a mom.

In an interview with KARE 11, Weggemann talked about her dream for the future. “Fast forward just over a year and a half, hopefully, all goes well, and I’ll get to see my husband in the stands in Paris, holding my little one, and I’ll get to show them photos and tell them that this one time when I was pregnant with them, I got to race it with them.”