Shriners Children’s Florida Patient to Compete in the 2024 Paralympic Trials

Shriners Children’s Florida patient Momo is an expert when it comes to defying the odds.

She became the youngest to ever compete in the 2021 Para Swimming World Series Event at just age 13. Today, the 17-year-old is reaching for the sky and is dedicated to beating her own records as she mentally and physically prepares for the Paralympic Swimming Trials happening in June of 2024.

Adopted from China as a baby, Momo was first seen at Shriners Children’s St. Louis, the closest hospital to her home in Indiana, nearly 10 years ago for scoliosis and began to receive care for the congenital arm amputation she received at birth. When her family moved to Florida at age 7, she began utilizing Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) in Tampa, where she quickly developed a relationship with her prosthetist and the staff. Momo said her care and medical journey with scoliosis and her arm never set her back. If anything, it encouraged her to pursue her passions.

“I began swimming at age 4 and I started competitively swimming at age 9,” said Momo. “I’m passionate about it because it’s a technique sport and I love honing in on the skill and focus. I’ve grown up being able to do these things because of Shriners Children’s. I cannot begin to describe everything they’ve done for me. I’m passionate about being an ambassador because if there's anything else I could do to push that care to someone else, I would do it.”

Although she swims in a handful of different races, she’s focusing on the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle. She currently competes on three different teams: her high school swim club, Team Kissimmee Swim Association and the adaptive team with Hillsborough County Adaptive Sports. Momo said throughout the years she explored a variety of interests, including playing the violin, but swimming has been a consistent passion of hers.

“Anytime I had a new hobby, Shriners Children’s has always been there to meet my prosthetic needs,” said Momo. “When I first became interested in swimming, I was around 8 and they made a prosthetic swimming device for me. The device was tailored just for me and had a silicone sleeve, a hard plastic cover with a paddle to use with holes. Although you can't use prosthetics in an official para swimming competition, it has been a great training tool for me. The staff at POPS treated me like family and supported me in whatever I’ve done.”

Momo is currently on the emerging Paralympics Swimming team and said she is hoping to move her way up through the rankings to eventually get on the A team and qualify for the 2028 Paralympic Games.