Paralympic Gold Medalist McKenzie Coan to Visit Bryn Mawr

The elite athlete will meet with the Mawrtian swim team, speak to 5th-12th grade students and sign copies of her book, Breaking Free: Shattering Expectations and Thriving With Ambition in Pursuit of Gold. See book ordering info below!

McKenzie was diagnosed at a very young age with a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bone disease. She has broken over 65 bones in her lifetime. After undergoing numerous surgeries and spending months recovering in burdensome casts, McKenzie found swimming to be the light at the end of the tunnel. 

In 2012, she qualified for the US Paralympic team, and placed 6th in the 400 meter free at the London Games. Four years later, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, McKenzie had a true breakout meet; she reached the championship podium in four events, taking home three gold medals and one silver medal. In 2018, McKenzie broke her first world record, by a staggering 37 seconds, in the S7 800 freestyle. McKenzie trained in Baltimore for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she ultimately won a silver and gold. 

Order your copy of Breaking Free: Shattering Expectations and Thriving With Ambition in Pursuit of Gold by October 20 to have it available for a book signing while McKenzie is on campus!