MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --- Morgan Stickney brought the firepower in preparation for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. The Biola University alumni added to her stellar career with a world record mark and a spot on the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team.

Stickney was the star of the show at the team trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She took part in three events, including the 400-meter freestyle S7, 100-meter freestyle S7, and 200-meter individual medley SM7. 

The big splash came in the 400-meter freestyle, as Stickney set a new world record. Not only did her time of 4:51.20 put her well ahead of the field in the trials but it also surpassed her own world record by nearly three seconds. 

"I gave it everything I had in the last 50," said Stickney via Team USA. "I knew my 300 mark was not as good as I wanted it to be this morning, so I really dug in at that point and I was impressed when I got to the wall." 

Stickney placed in the top two in all three of her events of the trials and is in position to compete in all three at the 2024 Paralympic Games, along with the 4x100m relay.

Stickney first attended Biola in 2016 and was on the BU swim team but faced immense adversity. She battled consistent pain in her foot and despite multiple surgeries, never found an answer. A staph infection eventually led to the decision to amputate her foot. 

Not long after, the pain returned but in the other foot, leading to the discovery of a cardiovascular condition that is extremely rare. Poor blood flow to her lower legs resulted in the amputation of her other foot, as she became a bilateral amputee.

Stickney continues to go through extensive treatment on a regular basis. Despite the health hardships, Stickney remains in the pool, training with high hopes for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Paris.

"It's almost more special (to return to the Paralympics), in a sense, than the last time because of everything I've been going through," Stickney commented via Team USA. "It's just always such an amazing experience, and I could never say enough positive things about being able to represent my country. It was so special to go to Tokyo just after losing both my legs, and being faced with this awful thing in life and turning it into a positive. I feel like I'm trying to do that same thing with my situation now."

Her first appearance at the Paralympic Games was in Tokyo in 2021. Stickney was spectacular, earning a pair of gold medals for Team USA. One came through her individual performance in the 400-meter freestyle S8 and her second gold was with her relay squad in 4x100m medley relay.

In the years since the 2021 Paralympic Games, Stickney has added three golds and one silver at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships.
 

The Paris 2024 Paralympics is set for August 28 - September 8 in France.