Mikaela Jenkins continues to impress as she qualifies for Paralympic Games in Tokyo
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (BVM) — Whether in the pool or out, you would never know that Mikaela Jenkins is actually different than most. Born with Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency — a limb growth deficiency in which Jenkins鈥� left femur is slightly shorter than her right — Jenkins had to have her left foot amputated when she was just eight months old.
Since, Jenkins has used a prosthetic leg, which has never stopped her from achieving what she鈥檚 wanted to in her life.聽
鈥淕rowing up, I didn鈥檛 really feel that different from other people,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淜ids treated me the same and I played the same sports they did in school and was able to keep up with them. It wasn鈥檛 really until high school that I started to notice and even then you really wouldn鈥檛 notice too much.
鈥淚 never thought of my disability as a handicap. I just keep the mindset that I know if I put in the same amount of work and work just as hard as my able-bodied counterparts, I can be just as good as them. I think I鈥檝e shown that through swimming.鈥�
Originally growing up in both Texas and Pennsylvania, Jenkins was a horseback rider and also tried out karate. She first began swimming competitively with a local YMCA team at age 8, and it didn鈥檛 take long before Jenkins became hooked.
鈥淲hat drew me to the sport the most was that I grew up swimming in little backyard pools, so when I first did it, I didn鈥檛 realize it was an actual sport and thought it was so much fun,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he best part about swimming for me is the friendships I鈥檝e made through it. I also love the competition. I鈥檝e always been very competitive so it鈥檚 nice to have an outlet for that.鈥�
Once Jenkins moved to Evansville, Ind., the swimmer began competing with the Newburgh Sea Creatures, and has continued to do so over the last several years.聽
鈥淣ewburgh Sea Creatures is definitely my favorite team that I鈥檝e swam with so far,鈥� Jenkins noted. 鈥淏eing in an environment where the athletes themselves want to be the best they can really pushed me.鈥�
Performing well locally, it didn鈥檛 take long for Jenkins to be noticed nationally either. Going to her first para-swimming meet in Cincinnati around 13 years old, Jenkins was made aware of the talent she had.
鈥淨ueenie Nichols, who was the director of USA Para Swimming at the time, told me that if I actually tried and put in more than three days of swimming each week, I might actually be really good,鈥� Jenkins said.
Jenkins continued to rise the ranks as she put extra work in, competing in high-level national and international competitions. In her first international meet, she received some additional hype from Nichols yet again.
鈥淨ueenie sat me down and said, 鈥業f you keep working the way you鈥檙e working, there is no doubt in my mind you are making the Tokyo team, and I think you will medal,鈥欌�� Jenkins explained. 鈥淚 thought she was crazy, but those words have really motivated me through the years.鈥�
In 2019, Jenkins made her first world championship team. It was at the 2019 World Para Swimming Allianz Championships where one of her best achievements in the sport so far came about, as she would take home a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly in her disability class. As a result, she became the No. 1 ranked swimmer in the world in her class.
鈥淚t definitely was a surprise to me,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淭hat was the biggest meet I had ever gone to at that point. I gave it my all, swam the best I could and ended up winning, which I was very happy about.鈥�
Throughout the last few years, Jenkins has also performed well swimming with able-bodied competitors at FJ Reitz High School. Although she took her junior year off to train, Jenkins did not want to miss her senior season with her team. The decision to compete once again at Reitz was a good one, as Jenkins became a sectional champion last season and also qualified for state.
鈥淚 ended up going to state which is a big deal in Indiana because it鈥檚 a very fast meet,鈥� Jenkins noted. 鈥淩eitz High School has been very helpful in my journey to this point.鈥澛�
Of course, many already know the FJ Reitz High School name thanks to another famous swimming alum who is already an Olympic gold medal winner — Lilly King. Over the years, Jenkins has been able to form a relationship with the star athlete as King has become a mentor to her.
鈥淚鈥檝e looked up to Lilly for a long time,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e grown to where she鈥檚 been a great mentor for me and also a great encourager. It鈥檚 very special that Evansville and Reitz High School have had this and it鈥檚 just been something that鈥檚 very unique that I treasure.鈥�
King will soon be heading off to Tokyo to compete in this summer鈥檚 Olympic games yet again. Soon after, her understudy will also follow her same path.
This summer, Jenkins earned a spot on the Team USA Paralympic swimming squad. A dazzling performance at trials sealed her fate, as Jenkins finished first in her heat for the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1 minute, 23.55 seconds, as well as first in the 100-meter backstroke with a 1:14.70 time. Jenkins would follow up with a dominant performance the following day, again taking first in both the 400-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle with times of 4:52.64 and 1:06.46, respectively.
Initially, Jenkins had planned to pursue a spot on Team USA last summer. Of course, the games would eventually be canceled, leading the swimmer to disappointment but also relief that she would have an additional year to train.
鈥淲hen everything got canceled, it was a couple weeks before our first trial meet,鈥� Jenkins explained. 鈥淚t being postponed has definitely made it more difficult with going to college and starting that next stage of my life. But it helped me having that extra year because I feel completely calm going into it and I鈥檓 ready to win. Going in super nervous with this level of stress wouldn鈥檛 have been good for me, so having this extra year has been a bit of a blessing.鈥�
Jenkins will begin the next stage of her life at Grove City College in Pennsylvania where she will continue her swimming career. Going to school as a biology pre-med major, the 18-year-old hopes to do well in the classroom while potentially qualifying for the NCAA DIII championships in the pool.
However, her first order of business comes later this summer when the Paralympic Games begin Aug. 24. Jenkins will leave for Tokyo in mid-August, and is eager for the opportunity she has.
鈥淚 was definitely very excited but I also felt a sense of relief that it was done, I鈥檓 on the team and now I can focus on the games,鈥� Jenkins said about trials. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited and any nerves that I have are excited nerves and not necessarily fear nerves as they were a year ago.鈥�
The experience that the standout swimmer has gained through her past international meets also has Jenkins feeling better prepared for the games.
鈥淭he experience has helped a ton,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou never know what to expect walking into a meet. Going through that and learning to be flexible has really helped to mature me through this process.鈥�
And while qualifying for the games was special enough, Jenkins is determined and knows she has a great opportunity to medal in Tokyo.
鈥淚 have some big goals for myself, one of which is defending my 2019 world championship medal and placing first in the 100-fly again,鈥� the Reitz grad said. 鈥淢y second event is the 200 IM, and I would really like to swim my fastest in that and see if I can eke out a medal.鈥�
Jenkins will also compete in a couple relays on the team in Tokyo.聽
Although she may have to deal with a limitation most others don鈥檛, Jenkins hasn鈥檛 missed a beat in the pool. Big goals and high expectations have always been part of her mindset, and she will continue setting the bar high whether it is this August or beyond.
鈥淚 want to set the world record in the 100-fly for para,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淚 want to break a minute in the 100-fly long course which is a very difficult thing to do. I also want to win a national championship in college and I just want to finish my career at the top of my game.鈥�
