Everything You Wanted to Know About Paralympics Swimmer and Gold Medalist, Anastasia Pagonis
Anastasia Pagonis was just 17 when she broke a world record and won the gold medal in the women's 400 metre freestyle S11 at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, and we're excited to see her return in 2024.
The now 20-year-old swimmer has a powerful story. Due to an autoimmune disorder, she fully lost her sight by the age of 14, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her goals as an athlete. With help from her beloved guide dog, Radar, she's relearned to navigate the world, becoming not just a record-breaking swimmer but also using her online platforms as a means to educate people about her experiences as a blind woman. In addition to competing at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, she's also an ambassador for Gillette Venus, the official razor of Team USA. To find out more about the star, keep scrolling to discover everything she shared with us as our latest Woman Crush Wednesday.
(Photo credit: Gillette Venus)
Name: Anastasia Pagonis
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Birthday: May 2
Fun Facts:
1. Shaving before a race is one of Anastasia's good luck rituals.
"I love to feel smooth and powerful through the water. Also, before every race, I have to have a bowl of Lucky Charms."
-Anastasia Pagonis
2. The one beauty product she couldn't live without is her Venus Mini.
"I take it everywhere. I am a hairy Greek girl, so I get the 5 o'clock shadow on my legs all the time. It's nice to have my Venus Mini with me. I keep it my swim bag, my Louis Vuitton. It comes with me everywhere!"
-Anastasia Pagonis
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3. In fact, she actually collects Venus Minis.
"I have like 10 of them haha."
-Anastasia Pagonis
4. If she could live in any decade, she'd pick the '90s.
"I love the vibe."
-Anastasia Pagonis
5. The Jonas Brothers put on the best concert she's ever attended.
"I got to go with Live Nation and meet them."
-Anastasia Pagonis
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6. Cannoli is her favorite dessert in the world.
"But it has to be the right cannoli! In my opinion, New York bakeries are the only ones that can perfect it."
-Anastasia Pagonis
7. Her favorite weather is really hot, with a breeze, so she can lay out and tan.
"I love to lay out and bake in the sun."
-Anastasia Pagonis
8. One of the dishes she has the fondest memories of is a baked pasta called pastitsio.
"My mom also makes this dish that sounds weird, but it's amazing. It's pasta with fried parmesan cheese and it's heavenly!"
-Anastasia Pagonis
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9. She doesn't consider herself an early bird nor a night owl.
"I could be asleep by 8 p.m. and will still sleep in 'til 10 a.m."
-Anastasia Pagonis
10. She's the youngest child in her family.
"I have an older brother, and that has made me a very tough person from being pushed around growing up, haha."
-Anastasia Pagonis
11. Authenticity will always be one of the most important things to Anastasia.
"I am unapologetically myself, and I will say whatever I think is right. I am not afraid to stand up for myself or for other people!"
-Anastasia Pagonis
For more on the women who inspire us, click HERE to learn all about fellow swimmer, Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby.