Paralympian, Pleasant Prairie swimmer Keegan Knott seeing hard work pay off
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — 16-year-old Keegan Knott is no stranger to adversity. Born with one leg shorter than the other and with no hip or fibula, surgeries were a regular part of her life from the start. Keegan has always loved the water, and when she discovered competitive swimming at age 7, she was hooked. Paralympic swimming came calling for Keegan at age 9 and would eventually lead her to compete in the 2020 Paralympic games in Toyko. “I am extremely fortunate to do a sport that allows me to swim with other disabled athletes and compete at the international level,” says Keegan.
Nine years of competitive swimming has taught Keegan the value of being a team member. She currently swims for the Pleasant Prairie Patriots and Team USA and has thoroughly enjoyed her time with both. In her own words, “I have learned how to work together despite the individuality of the sport, and how to have fun while competing.”
Staying positive is always on Keegan’s mind, especially when training multiple times per day for hours at a time begins to wear on her body and mind. “I tend to psych myself out, especially before races, saying that I’m not prepared enough, and I won’t do as well as I hope. Some things I do to manage the challenge is focus on the present and know that as long as I give it my all, the times will show up. It’s much more beneficial to stay positive than look at every outcome negatively.”
Being an elite athlete certainly comes with its share of challenges, and this was never more evident for Keegan than during her time in Tokyo last year. While training at the Yokota Air Force Base during the week before the competition, Keegan’s positive outlook began to falter. Although she was hitting her times, her shoulder had begun to hurt, and she was starting to wonder if she would be able to perform to the best of her abilities. To make matters worse, Keegan’s coach wasn’t allowed to join her due to Team USA’s strict rules for how many coaches could be in attendance.
Ultimately, Keegan did not end up taking home a medal in 2020, but this hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm for her sport or her goals for the future. Keegan is already working on being ready to re-qualify for the Paralympic games, with the ultimate goal of winning a medal at the international level someday.
Outside of the pool, the Warren Township High School senior is no different than any other teenager. She likes to read, hang out with friends, play board and card games, go to the beach, and go out to eat whenever possible. In swimming, as well as in her daily life, Keegan takes the advice of a former mentor “Give it your all, because you never know how far you’ll go if you don’t.”
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