In August 2020 she was paired with the NHL’s New York Islanders’ Puppy with a Purpose guide dog Radar, whom she lovingly calls her "eyes." In training for the Paralympics, Pagonis moved from her native Long Island to Colorado Springs, CO to train at the U.S.
On her first jump in she "smashed right into the lane line." Wanting to feel the freeing experience of swimming again, she eventually joined Islanders Aquatics on Long Island, NY, and Coach Marc Danin, whom she credits as a lifesaver.
With the support of family, Pagonis eventually received the help she needed and decided to get back into the pool. Pagonis struggled with her condition and for a time gave up swimming altogether. Originally a soccer player, her doctor encouraged her to try a "less contact" support and suggested swimming which eventually became her "happy place." At 14 years old her vision "completely blew" leaving her with only light visual perception after an additional diagnosis of autoimmune retinopathy. At 11 she began to gradually lose her sight to Stargardt disease. A six-time world medalist, Seely became involved in the sport as a New Year's tradition to try something she had never done before. She learned about triathlon while she was a student at Arizona State University and signed up for her first race in September 2008. After the race she decided to join the school's club triathlon team. Seely was already a nationally ranked triathlete prior to her 2010 diagnosis. She made her debut as an elite paratriathlete in 2012 and earned bronze at the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships that same year.įully sighted until she was 9, Pagonis began having trouble seeing small fonts among other slight changes in vision. In 2010, she was diagnosed with Chiari II Malformation, basilar invagination, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which affects her brain, spine and connective tissues. In 2013 she had her left leg amputated below the knee due to increased spasticity in her foot. Seely enters Tokyo as the 2016 Rio Paralympic gold medalist in para-triathlon. 24 - Sept 5, 2021, broadcast on NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, and streamed live and on-demand on, the NBC Sports app and on Peacock.īefore you tune in to watch, here's a look at a few Team USA Paralympic standouts that we think you should get to know a little bit better. The 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games will be contested from Aug.
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