Six-time Paralympic medalist Becca Meyers broke the world record in the 400-meter individual medley SM12 at the 2019 US Paralympics Swimming Para National Championships on Dec. 6. The record, previously held by Trischa Zorn, the most decorated Paralympian in history [1], from 1990 onward, was bested by almost 12 seconds. "Breaking a record that old feels amazing [2]," Becca said, according to teamusa.org. "I'm so excited about my time in the 400 IM, as well as breaking the record held by one of the greatest swimmers of all-time."

Becca also broke the women's 200-meter butterfly S12 record [3] the following day. The 25-year-old was born deaf and developed a vision impairment due to the rare genetic disorder [4] Usher syndrome [5] — she reportedly lost her peripheral vision and, according to USA Swimming, doctors think she could lose her vision completely around her 40th birthday.

Becca is supported by a seeing eye dog named Birdie [6], and USA Swimming reports that she had a cochlear implant put in when she was young, then another when she was 15, which gave her "full, stereo hearing for the first time in her life [7]." Note: just like in any Paralympic sport [8], swimming events are split up by classifications based on athletes' impairments.

Becca recently beat her own world record and received gold in the 400-meter freestyle S13 [9] at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London. She's said in the past that she aspires to make it to Tokyo 2020 [10], which would be her third Paralympic Games (she took home three golds and a silver in Rio 2016 and, in London 12, took home a silver and a bronze). Amid Nationals, Becca expressed excitement about training for Tokyo [11] in the coming year.

"I love being in the water; [12] I always have," Becca, who was honoured with the Trischa L. Zorn Award in 2016 and 2018 and also received the 2015 and 2017 ESPY Award for Best Female Athlete With a Disability [13], told usaswimming.org last year. "It's the one place where I can shut the rest of the world out and just enjoy and relax."

Congrats, Becca!