Quotes from Jessica Long

I always said, as soon as I stopped loving this sport is when I probably will retire.

I love routines and love having something to look forward to.

Growing up, I was one of those energetic kids who never sat still.

I used to not wear shorts in the summer time. I just wanted to hide it and wear long pants. Then after the Paralympics, I saw how the other athletes handled missing an arm or a leg and they didn't care. That was what I needed to see.

My legs are heavy. They hurt me. I'm in pain So to all the handicap police out there, just be kind. You don't need to know why someone's parked in handicapped - and yeah, just be kind.

I'm a big vitamins girl. I take iron because, especially being a female athlete, I have to make sure iron levels are good to go.

When I'm sad, I let myself be sad, but at the same time, I've been finding ways to pick myself back up.

I love taking Epsom salt baths.

Bedtime is truly one of my favorite times.

I've been a bilateral amputee since birth and don't know anything else.

I feel like Rio 2016 was my worst performance, and really my burnout.

Every Sunday after church we would go over to my grandparents' house and spend time with them and they had a pool in their backyard, and I would like eat as fast as I could just so I could be the first one in the pool. And then I would be the last one out.

There was so much pain. Every time I grew, I had to go back in for a surgery. And I remember just being really, really scared but also, like, knowing exactly what to do. Like as a 3-year-old, I knew to crawl on top of the operating table.

Something that really irritates me is when I come to a four-way stop, and I clearly have the right of way, and the other person who doesn't have the right of way waves for me to go. I'm like, 'Yeah, I know I can go.'

Before I step on a starting block, I will clap three times and shake out my arms twice. I don't feel ready to race unless I do that.

It's never been just about me. It's about my grandparents who used to drive me to swim practice. My dad who - on his one day to sleep in - would take me to swim meets. My mom and my sisters who would massage my aching shoulders when I was little There have been so many people who have believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.

I know I'm enough with or without the gold medals. I just love to swim.

I am so grateful that respected global swimwear brand Arena stepped up to support U.S. Paralympics as a supplier. They also sponsor me individually, as their first Paralympic swimmer.

I fell in love with this idea of becoming a swimmer. I knew two strokes at the time but I went and I just loved racing these girls with legs.

For swimming, we don't really have an offseason.

I love swimming, but swimming can't be my entire identity, my entire world.

Swimming forced me to deal with the things I wanted to escape. It helped me work through a lot of feelings and frustrations, because I had hours under water just to swim laps and think.

I love swimming, but I love knowing that kids see me as an inspiration.

Swimming, it's the best job.