by Elise Morley

Elise Morley will be competing in swimming at the 2023 ParaPan American Games in Santiago, Chile this November!

Hi, my name is Elise, and I’m very excited to have been nominated for a second time to go to the ParaPan American Games. It’s been 4 years since I went to Lima, Peru, & my training looks pretty different now. I work two jobs and am going to grad school, so I have to fit my training in around all of that.

I’m an infant swim instructor at the YMCA, and I’ve been teaching for around one year now. It’s been great to see my swimmers from my baby classes move on to the older classes and start swimming. I am often the first person with a disability these kids meet, and I can see the positive difference it makes. I’m not just a person with a disability to them, and it’s not strange or new. I’m just their swim instructor, and that’s been really heartwarming to experience.

I also teach swim lessons at Swim Angelfish, an adaptive swim program. It’s important to me to pass on that love for swimming to the next generation, and to make a difference in the community. I was an anxious swimmer growing up, and I was the only disabled child in my swim program. I want to strive to be the change I want to see in the world, and being an adaptive swim instructor is a part of that. I am so incredibly grateful to work with some of the kindest, most knowledgeable instructors and therapists in the program. What we get to do is so special, and seeing these swimmers finally comfortable in the water or achieving a skill they’ve been working hard on is amazing. 

I was actually at work when I found out I made the team, which isn’t surprising since I also train there! When everyone found out they were all really supportive, and I’ve got a whole cheering squad whenever I’m training there. When I’m not getting laps in at the pool, I do weight training and, more recently, rock climbing.

As for ParaPan American Games, I’m really just excited to see what I’m capable of. I feel a lot more prepared going for a second time, and I’m aiming to be more intentional this time. It’s all about enjoying the process and finding joy in doing what I love.