A United States paraswimmer has died at the age of 23 after a catastrophic brain bleed last weekend.
Hannah Nelson’s passing was announced by Ave Maria University in Florida, where she was on the swim team for two years.
She was diagnosed with bone cancer when she was 11, which led to her losing her left leg below the knee.
Nelson was already a keen and talented swimmer by that age and it led her on a path to representing her country at the World Para Swimming 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.
United States paraswimmer Hannah Nelson has passed away at the age of 23 years old
‘She proudly represented Team USA at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships and was a valued member of the U.S. Paralympics Swimming team. Our thoughts are with her family and all who knew her.’
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.’
MORE TO FOLLOW
