Ellie Marks Wins Team USA's First Medal at the 2024 Paralympics with a Silver in 50-Meter Freestyle S6

Mar. 15, 2025

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On Thursday, Aug. 29, Marks sprinted her way to silver in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S6 race, earning the U.S. its first medal of the Paris Paralympics.

Finishing with a time of 32.90, Marks was just behind China’s Jiang Yuyan, who won gold in 32.59. Rounding out the podium was Ukraine swimmer Anna Hontar, who took the bronze medal.

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PerTeam USA, with her latest silver medal, Marks now has a total of six Paralympic medals – two golds, two silver and two bronze. Her medal count could also increase, as she’ll swim in four additional events: the 200-meter individual medley SM6, the 50-meter butterfly S6 and the 100-meter breaststroke S6.

Marks’ journey to becoming a Paralympic swimming champion began back in 2012, two years after she sustained a bilateral hip injury while in the Army. She was accepted into the US Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and found “fit for duty” as a 68w combat medic.

Since that time, over a decade later, Marks has excelled in the sport. In 2016 she was the recipient of the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY Awards, and a year later was inducted into the Army Women’s Hall of Fame.

In the women’s 100-meter butterfly S13, Grace Nuhfer — making her Paralympic debut — earned silver, behind Italy’s Carlotta Gilli who took gold and Muslima Odilova of Uzbekistan who finished third, earning bronze.

To learn more about all the Olympic champions and Paralympic hopefuls, come topeople.comto check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Paris Paralympics, beginning Aug. 28, on NBC and Peacock.

source: people.com