Jamal Hill’s Rise to Greatness

About Jamal Hill

As the Summer and Winter Olympics approach, the world gets to witness the athletic greatness of the highest level. This year, the Paralympics will take place from August 28th, and one athlete to look out for is American swimmer Jamal Hill. Hill is competing in his second Paralympic Games and has overcome insurmountable odds to reach the peak of sports.

Growing up in Inglewood, CA, Hill was the only child of his parents. He credits their wisdom for his positive upbringing, stating, "I have a great sense of pride in who I am and appreciation for family, and willingness to listen more than speak. I am a man of God as well. That is what drives me to this day."

A Life Changed by an Accident

Hill’s destiny appeared predetermined. He loved swimming, and the sport loved him back. His mother wanted him to learn to swim because she couldn’t, even as an athlete herself. However, Hill’s life changed one day in 2005 after a practice that seemed normal. While playing with his father, Hill showed him that he could dislocate his own shoulder. This led to a series of devastating events that would change his life forever.

At the age of 11, Hill was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a degenerative nerve disease that usually appears in childhood or early adulthood. His mother refused to allow the doctors to tell him the news, fearing it would crush his confidence. Instead, she waited until he was 19 years old to reveal the truth.

From Overcoming Adversity to Achieving His Dreams

Despite his diagnosis, Hill continued to pursue his passion for swimming. He competed in college at the Division III level but moved on after his junior season to focus on turning professional and reaching the Olympics. However, after working with a coach to qualify for the Olympics, Hill was told he would not be able to compete at that level.

It took some convincing, but Hill recalibrated his focus and began competing in the Paralympics. He took bronze in the 50-meter freestyle, S9 classification, at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Hill is now focused on winning gold in 2024 and has set a massive goal: to help one million people learn how to swim.

Swim Up Hill Non-Profit Organization

To achieve his goal, Hill created a non-profit organization called Swim Up Hill. The organization provides innovative and culturally relevant swim instruction for low to middle-income people of color in the U.S. and abroad. They provide swim lessons and adaptive clothing, designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to take off and put on their swimsuits.

Hill has partnered with befree, an adaptive clothing brand that provides outfits for the people he serves. They have also supported a children’s book sharing the story of how Hill helped a child learn to swim. Hill appreciates their commitment and quality, stating, "The outfits are similar to those that NBA players wore in the ’90s."

The Future of Competitive Swimming

Hill’s purpose is to help as many people learn to swim as possible. For those new to swimming, he shares three tips to help them adapt quicker:

1. Stick Your Face in a Bowl of Water: Use a bowl that is just big enough that the face can fit in and fill it with water. Many people who don’t know how to swim can reserve high levels of trauma when it comes to submersing their face. This is the most basic instrument and skill because your face doesn’t take up the whole ocean.
2. Proper Breathing Technique: Breathe into the mouth and out of the nose. That is what we preach and practice.
3. Get with the Right Coach: Make sure it is the right fit as well, especially when dealing with younger athletes. That coach should be able to provide a technical foundation.

Conclusion

Jamal Hill’s story is one of resilience, determination, and passion. Despite his diagnosis with CMT disease, he continues to pursue his dreams and inspire others to do the same. His non-profit organization, Swim Up Hill, is dedicated to providing swim lessons and adaptive clothing to those in need.

With his sights set on winning gold in 2024, Hill is a true example of overcoming adversity and achieving greatness.

FAQs

Q: What is CMT disease?
A: CMT disease is a degenerative nerve disease that usually appears in childhood or early adulthood.

Q: How did Jamal Hill overcome his diagnosis?
A: Jamal Hill continued to pursue his passion for swimming, competing in college and eventually switching to the Paralympics.

Q: What is Swim Up Hill?
A: Swim Up Hill is a non-profit organization founded by Jamal Hill, providing innovative and culturally relevant swim instruction for low to middle-income people of color in the U.S. and abroad.

Q: What is befree, and how does it support Jamal Hill?
A: befree is an adaptive clothing brand that provides outfits for the people Jamal Hill serves through his non-profit organization, Swim Up Hill. They also supported a children’s book sharing the story of how Hill helped a child learn to swim.