Lindbergh High School Freshman to Swim in London 2012 Paralympics

In a dispatch from Lindbergh High School, Beth Johnston, the district's director of communications, provides the following account of a local swimmer who will be competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Lindbergh High School ninth-grader Colleen Young, 14, will be the youngest United States athlete to compete in the upcoming London 2012 Paralympic Games, Aug. 29-Sept. 9.

Colleen, daughter of Doug and Bridget Young, of Sunset Hills, holds five American records in breaststroke and is currently ranked second in the world for the 100-meter breaststroke in her paralympic classification, which is visual impairment. She hopes to medal in her signature event, but will also swim the 200-meter IM, 50-meter freestyle, and 100-meter freestyle.

“Hopefully I will medal in London,” she said. “That would be really cool.”

Years of hard work and dedication are paying off for the talented swimmer. Most recently, Colleen has been swimming six days a week for the Clayton/Shaw Park Tide Riders, and she looks forward to trying out for the Lindbergh Flyers swim team this winter. Colleen’s visual impairment is the result of albinism, a genetic disorder.

Colleen will compete in the same pool where her 2012 Olympic Team heroes Missy Franklin and Rebecca Soni swam earlier this month and will stay in Olympic Village. She leaves Wednesday to begin her training in Stuttgart, Germany before heading to the games in London.