Loyola University Maryland junior McKenzie Coan claimed her first-ever gold medal for Team USA, setting a Paralympic Record in the S7 50m freestyle on the second day of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Coan, a native of Clarksville, Georgia, entered the finals as the favorite to win the event, as she turned in a time of 32.57 in the morning’s preliminary session. She bettered that time in the finals, touching first in 32.42, a Paralympic Record.
Germany’s Denise Grahl claimed silver, with a time of 33.16, as she out-touched Great Britain’s Susannah Rodgers who clocked in at 33.26. Cortney Jordan, who graduated from Loyola with a Masters degree in 2016 and trains under Loyola head coach Brian Loeffler, finished fourth in 33.33.
Coan will have the weekend to rest up for her next event, the 50 fly on Monday, while teammate Alyssa Gialamas will also return to the pool on Monday. Gialamas will compete in the 50 free.
