Paralympic champion Anastasia Pagonis to star in new Fuse TV show, “Like A Girl”

Paralympic champion and world record holder Anastasia Pagonis is set to star in the next episode of the new Fuse TV show, “Like a Girl,” which takes a deep dive into the issues elite female athletes face both in their sports and outside of it. competition.

The 18-year-old Long Island native has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and millions on Tik Tok by posting videos in a bid to “change the way you” see “the visually impaired.” Now, Pagonis is set to make its television debut on Wednesday with its episode airing at 10 p.m. EST.

“It’s so important to focus on issues that you don’t normally talk about,” Pagonis told SwimSwam. “I would love to see more companies and brands come out to support and sponsor Paralympians for their elite athletic abilities while overcoming a disability. All elite athletes work with every fiber to get where they are. But when you have a disability, it’s incredible to see the strength and perseverance of these athletes who find a way to be elite athletes while adapting to their disability.

The series has previously featured the three-time Olympic volleyball medalist april rossolympic skateboarder Jenn SotoNCAA transgender hurdles champion Cece Telferand professional footballer madison hammond since its premiere on March 29. So far he has explored topics such as mental health, body image, and gender and racial inequalities.

“I want to be a sports agent so I can get us women and Paralympians the money and the jobs we deserve,” Pagonis said in the series trailer released last month.

After going blind at age 14 and going through a deep phase of depression, Pagonis switched to Para swimming and broke her first American record in the S11 500 freestyle (5:52.45) in November 2020. A few months later, she added four more American records to his tally in the 100 free (1:01.41), 200 IM (2:36.27), 200 free (2:13.96) and 100 butterfly (1:11.37). At the 2021 Olympic trials, she set the world record for the S11 400 freestyle and then lowered it to 4:45.49 in her gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics later that year – just 17 years.

According to Swimming World Magazine, Pagonis suffered a concussion that kept her out of the water through the winter and called into question her ability to compete in the World Championships this summer. However, she is still confident heading into the 2024 Paris Olympics.