Photo: LauraHale, CC BY-SA 3.0 — Source
American Paralympic swimmer and the most decorated athlete in Paralympic Games history, winning 55 medals — 41 gold, 9 silver, and 5 bronze — across seven Games from 1980 to 2004. Blind from birth due to a genetic condition, she competed in visually impaired swimming categories. She won seven gold medals at her first Paralympics at age 16 and maintained her dominance for over two decades. She earned a law degree and became an advocate for athletes with disabilities. Her medal record is unlikely ever to be surpassed and stands as one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of competitive sport.