UNF student Morgan Ray swimming for Team USA in Paralympics in Paris

Morgan Ray, University of North Florida health administration student and Paralympic swimmer, will swim for Team USA at the Paralympics in Paris this week.

The 21-year-old St. Johns County resident and former Bartram Trail High School graduateisscheduled to swim at least two events, the men's 100-meter breaststroke and the 200 individual medley. His participation depends on his performance in preliminary races, and he could also get the call to race in various other relays.

He spent the last month training at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, prior to flying to the Olympic Village in Paris.

Ray, who has achondroplasia, a genetic condition that is considered the most frequent form of dwarfism, has overcome so much to swim for Team USA this year.

"I've been swimming for 16 years and, so many times, I've doubted myself, yet I've always tried to embrace being the underdog," said Ray.

In 2021, he was the first alternate for the Paralympics in Tokyo. In 2022, he swam in the World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira, Portugal, and won silver in the 100 breast, but he was unable to compete for most of the competition because of a positive COVID test. In 2023, he experienced COVID issues again at the world meet in Manchester, England, and finished off the medal stand with a fourth place in the 100 breast.

"This last year has been a huge shift for me," explained Ray. "New coaching, training in Colorado and a new perspective of who I am. I am more than a swimmer. I am a child of the most-high God. I'm a true competitor. I love to compete. I live for it."

Ray says that he wasn't born with swimming talent and was terrified when he first learned to swim. It took years of dedicated daily practice and support from his family and in his faith.

"I am so thankful to have my family who has supported me for so many years," said Ray. "My parents sacrificed so many trips to practice and meets and making sure they're there to support me. My brothers, from driving to practice and racing in the pool together, all helped me dig deep and find joy in inspiring others."

The UNF community is surely inspired by Ray and will be cheering him on from Florida as he soars through the water in Paris. Watch him compete for Team USA in the Paralympics onPeacock, starting at about 11:30 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 30, when he will swim the 200 individual medley and again at about 11:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday Sept. 1, when he swims the men's 100-meter breaststroke. Follow Morgan on Instagram.