Miranda Uhl

Background

Uhl was born with achondroplasia, restricting the growth of her limbs.

Career

Born with achondroplasia, Uhl began to swim competitively at ten years old. When she was ten years old, Uhl started swimming competitively. She joined the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) and started preparing for the Paralympics.

At twelve years old, she joined the Gator Swim Club with Jennifer Davis as her coach.

When she was fifteen years old, Uhl started having excruciating pain in her back and knees. Her coach, Jennifer Davis, convinced her to postpone surgery to straighten her spine.

The surgery would have prevented Uhl from competing in the 2008 Summer Paralympics, and Davis told her that anything could happen to her between the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics that might prevent her from competing in later Paralympics. According to Davis, "she"s just an amazing swimmer — if she were normal size she"d be one of the best in the world, easily — and I would hate to see her lose an opportunity like this." Miranda Uhl swam two hours a day, six days a week.

In middle school, Uhl attended Saint Patrick"s Catholic School in Gainesville, Florida.

She attended Saint Francis High School, which is also in Gainesville, Florida. Her hometown is in Alachua, Florida. She attends Florida Atlantic University, where she joined the swim team and is a biology–pre-medical major.

Miranda Uhl competed on the 2007 United States. Parapan American swimming team

She broke the world record in that competition with a 3:13.05 finish. Uhl inspired 2012 Summer Paralympics swimmer Jaide Childs, who also attended Saint Patrick"s and who has arthrogryposis, to join the sport.

Achievements

• She won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Paralympics. At the Parapan American Games, Uhl won six gold medals and three silver medals. She competed in the 2007 Parapan Games, where she won 8 medals. She won eight medals at the Parapan Games, five were gold and three were silver. Uhl also competed in the 2008 Paralympic World Cup in which she won a bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly with a time of three minutes and 5.32 seconds. In the 2008 Summer Paralympics, Miranda Uhl won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley.