13-year-old Utah swimmer wins silver, bronze medals at Parapan American Games

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Chloe Cederholm has accomplished something not many other 13-year-olds have: winning a bronze and silver medal at the Parapan American Games.

Chloe, an Olympus Jr. High seventh grader, recently returned victorious from the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games as the youngest member of Team USA. Chloe received a silver medal in the women's 100 meter backstroke and a bronze medal in the women's 200 meter individual medley event — both wonderful presents for her 13th birthday, which occurred right before the games.

"It was amazing, and being able to wear the cap with my country's flag and my last name on it was the most amazing feeling ever. Getting to win the medals representing my country was just truly amazing and a feeling that's hard to explain," Chloe said. "An experience I could never compare anything to. I am so grateful I got to compete."

Chloe started swimming at 4 years old and was diagnosed later with McCune-Albright syndrome, a rare disorder that causes weak bones, muscle fatigue and makes normal activities and sports difficult. Although it can make swimming challenging, Chloe said "the water is a healing place" for her.

"My hips are uneven and I can get disqualified for that easily because I cannot control what my hips do," Chloe said. "My bones can break easily. Every time I get into the water it relaxes them and makes me feel like that's where they belong."

Chloe got on her first swim team at age 6, started competitively swimming at about 8 years old, found para swimming at 10 and "never looked back." She is now a member of Olympus Aquatics and swims about three hours at least six days a week.

"Para swimming is a chance for my teammates and I to compete on the world stage despite some of our challenges. It truly is about diving into challenges, cheering on my teammates and showing the world how awesome para athletes are," she said.

After competing in her first world series in Minneapolis in April, and getting internationally qualified at a meet in Guadalajara, Mexico, in October, Chloe was officially chosen for Team USA for Santiago.

"My goal is to bring energy, kindness and a can-do spirit to every race. I want to show the world what the human spirit is capable of," Chloe said.

During the medal ceremonies, Chloe and her Team USA teammate Taylor Winnett, 24, of Pennsylvania, embraced each other.

"It was just such an amazing feeling, and I was so happy for Taylor when she got first. I just remember when she hugged me, I started crying. I couldn't hold it all in," she said.

Chloe said she has watched Winnett succeed in swimming for a few years now, and it makes her excited for what she can accomplish in the future, too.

"Honestly, going into the meet I felt ready. I felt like I had done everything I needed to do leading up to the event," Chloe said. "I thought I'd be nervous, but once I got there, I realized everybody is here to enjoy the experience and try their hardest, and I decided to go in with that mindset and it ended up working out really well."

Chloe's father, Wayne Cederholm, said she had a hard time leaving for Chile and was homesick at first. But once she was there, she had a hard time coming home because she loved it so much.

Although he was nervous his little girl was traveling so far for such a big competition, he was so proud of her.

"When she won, I just couldn't even believe it. I was just emotional. I was so happy for her and so proud of her. It meant the world to us," he said. "The experience meant so much to her."

Wayne Cederholm said he was so grateful for how Team USA treated Chloe as the youngest member, supporting her and including her in everything.

Chloe said her teammates made the competition feel like home in its own way and she loved cheering for her friends and seeing everyone support each other.

"It was like we were a family," she said.

With support from school teachers, teammates, friends and family, Chloe is now aiming for the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics.

"I know that that sounds crazy because I'm 13, but I can't say that it's impossible even though it might not work, because it is possible to try. And that's all I need to do — try my hardest and maybe I'll get there," she said.

Chloe said everyone should "go for it, because you are never going to know if you don't try." If she didn't try to get to the Parapan American Games, she never would have known what she could accomplish.

"Swimming is a sport where you can practice every day and try your hardest, but sometimes you don't swim faster right away. This has happened to me multiple times," she said. "When you try hard and don't see results, you might start to wonder if you're good enough. That's what I felt."

"But that's the big test. When you start doubting, you have to decide: give up or jump back in the pool and keep trying. I want to just keep swimming, and that's really important," she added.

Related topics