US Marine Sergeant First Class Elizabeth Marx from Prescott Valley Arizona is a par Olympic swimmer who specializes in the 100 meter breast stroke while deployed in Iraq in 2010 she suffered bilateral hip injuries that left her disabled she picked up swimming while completing her Rehabilitation she began competing in swimming competitions in 2012 while competing in the 2014 Invictus games she contracted a severe respiratory infection that forced doctors in the UK to place her in a medically induced coma for a month the infection caused permanent damage to Elizabeth's lung capacity and impacts her vision with prolonged exercise nevertheless she continues to compete she even won the pat telman award for service at the 2016 SP Awards she has been the only active duty Soldier to receive the award in 2017 she was in inducted into the US Army women's Foundation Hall of Fame as a competitor in the par Olympic Games she won Golden Bronze medals in Leo in 2016 gold silver and bronze medals in Tokyo in 2020 and just won the silver medal in the 50m freestyle in the 2024 games in Paris if you're struggling if you're hurting whether it's mental or emotional if ever you think you're alone you're not and ever you think no one cares I do please come join me behind the blocks thank you