Golden Gia Pergolini brings home the Paralympic gold medal, a Knight to remember
MILTON, Ga – After breaking her own world record in the women’s 100-meter backstroke S13 with a time of 1:04.64, Gia Pergolini left Toyko this summer as a Paralympics gold medalist. The Saint Francis Knights senior has the 2022 Georgia High School Association State Championship next on her list.
In 2014, Pergolini was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease – a rare condition that causes progressive vision loss starting in early childhood. The 17-year-old took up swimming at an early age, 5, and has defined herself as an athlete of physical strength, speed and endurance.
Thereafter her diagnosis, Pergolini participated in the 2017 World Para Swimming Championships in Mexico City and won silver in the women’s 100m backstroke S13 then earned an equivalent silver medal in London in 2019. Later she set out to achieve a new world record with a time of 1:05.05 in the qualifying heats during the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
In the face of vision impairment, Pergolini is a reinforcement for her high school team success.
“She is an awesome kid who will be one of the leaders on our team,” said her coach, Matthew Buckley, when asked about rising stars for the Saint Francis Knights girls swim team.
During her junior year, the two-time finalist finished fourth in the women’s 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.44 and set a new school record placing seventh in the 50y freestyle with a time of 24.28 at the GHSA 1-3A State Championship.
As a sophomore Pergolini finished third in the women’s 100m backstroke with a time of 56.25, making a first appearance at the podium in Saint Francis history during the GHSA swimming and diving championships. It is no surprise Pergolini will continue to rise above as an athlete and student. The Georgia native is also a member of the Dynamo Swim Club – a nonprofit and top ranked swim club founded 1964 and prides itself on building state champions and record holders – where she placed 14th in the 2020-2021 rankings.
Coached by Nick Graves at Dynamo Swim Club, Pergolini won a gold medal and the heart of her supporters at the Tokyo Paralympics as she surpassed a personal record in a groundbreaking year for the 2022 graduate. After bringing home the gold, Pergolini and the Saint Francis Knights are expecting to advance this winter with hopes of another podium appearance and setting new records for the school.
“Our goal is to place well in the 1A Championships preferable in the top 10 for both boys and girls,” Coach Buckley expresses his goals for the organization. “Gia will help us do this with her speed obviously and her experience. … She always helps our relays get off to a good start and cheers on her teammates through each race.”
Pergolini has not announced a future commitment to a school or university and has mentioned her participation in the 2024 Summer Paralympics held in Paris.
“I know for her personally; she is looking to make the podium at the GHSA State Championships in the 100m backstroke,” Coach Buckley shared insight on what’s next in the immediate future for Golden Gia.
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