"Hannah was the definition of a true leader for our team, both in and out of the pool," the swimming head coach at Ave Maria University said
Credit: Sipa via AP
NEED TO KNOW
- U.S. Para Swimming World Championship team member Hannah Nelson has died
- Nelson’s funeral was held at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Florida
- Her teammates at Ave Maria University acted as pallbearers at the event
Para Swimming World Championship U.S. team member Hannah Nelson has died at age 23 of a "catastrophic brain bleed," her university announced Wednesday.
Nelson, a top swimmer for the U.S. and for her Florida college, died on Easter Sunday, a day after her brain bleed began, Ave Maria University announced in a statement on Wednesday, April 8.
"The loss of Hannah Nelson is felt across our community," USA Para Swimming said in a post on Instagram Tuesday.
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"She proudly represented @teamusa at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships and was a valued member of the U.S. Paralympics Swimming team. Our thoughts are with her family and all who knew her," the organization added.
Nelson began swimming at 8 years old. When she was 11, she was diagnosed with bone cancer, which resulted in the partial amputation of her left leg.
In 2023, Nelson made the team for the Para Swimming World Championships, finishing 7th in the 400m Freestyle S10. At college, "Hannah was a swimming program record holder at Ave Maria University," USA Para Swimming said.
"Hannah was the definition of a true leader for our team, both in and out of the pool," Ave Maria head coach Giordan Harris said in the school's statement. "Between her collegiate and paralympic careers, her story impacted a lot of people well beyond our campus. Hannah was joyful, bright and genuinely happy to be at Ave Maria. We are going to miss her."
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Nelson's teammate Maeve O'Brien also recalled her experience with the late athlete and said Nelson "was able to brighten any practice or lift with just her presence and colorful array of orange suits."
"Her joyful attitude, humble heart and gentle disposition allowed her to smile during the toughest sets and uplift her teammates both in and out of the pool," O'Brien added in the school's statement.
A funeral was held for Nelson at the university's Ave Maria Catholic Church on Tuesday, with eight of her teammates serving as pallbearers.
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