500 days to 2024 Paris Paralympics: Athletes to watch

U.S. Paralympic hopefuls to watch as Sunday marks 500 days until the 2024 Paris Games …

Leanne Smith, Swimming After one medal at the Tokyo Games (silver), Smith won a meet-leading seven gold medals at last June’s world championships, the best medal haul for a U.S. swimmer at a worlds since Jessica Long in 2010. Two months later, the 34-year-old was rushed to the emergency room with difficulty breathing and admitted to the intensive care unit with what she later learned was a partially collapsed lung.

“I lost the ability to breathe normally, talk, swallow, eat solids and control the muscles surrounding my left eye,” Smith posted on social media in December.

Smith is entered in a late April qualifying meet for this summer’s world championships and considered a contender for the world team, according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Deja Young-Craddock, Track and Field Young-Craddock attempted suicide leading up to the 2016 Games while dealing with depression and anxiety. After asking for help and with the support of family and friends, she returned to the track and swept 100m and 200m golds in her Paralympic debut in Rio.

She followed that with 100m bronze in Tokyo just behind silver medalist countrywoman Brittni Mason, another top U.S. hopeful for Paris.

Then last June 29, Young-Craddock had daughter Saia Rae. She joins a long list of Paralympic medalist moms looking to return to the Games, including swimmer Mallory Weggemann and several sitting volleyball players, including Tokyo Paralympic MVP and captain Katie Holloway Bridge.

Nick Mayhugh, Track and Field Led the U.S. track and field team in Tokyo with three gold medals, one silver and world records in his classification in the 100m and 200m.

Mayhugh,