COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Queens University of Charlotte women's swimmer Hannah Aspden has been selected to represent Team USA at the 2022 Para Swimming World Championships in June in Madeira, Portugal, as announced by Team USA. Aspden, a two-time Paralympian, has competed in the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 as well as the Tokyo Games in 2020. The Raleigh, N.C. native took gold in the 100-meter backstroke and 4x100-meter medley relay in Tokyo while earning bronze in both events in Rio.
 
"I'm honored to have been selected for my third World Championships team," said Aspden. "I'm especially excited to be competing for Team USA in Portugal this summer!"
 
Following the 2022 Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis this month, the U.S. Paralympic Swimming team announced the selection of 25 athletes. The three-day world series saw U.S. athletes take home nearly 50 medals, and results were used to determine the roster headed to the world championships. Of the 25 athletes nominated, 23 competed at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, including Apsden.
 
"The Para Swimming World Series in Indianapolis served as the first major international competition post Tokyo for many of our athletes. The athletes named to the world championship roster stepped up, performed well and earned their ticket to Portugal," Erin Popovich, director of U.S. Paralympics Swimming, said. "This is a team largely composed of veteran athletes who have raced on the world's biggest stages, and we look to them to lead the way for the up-and-coming athletes making their world championship debut."
 
Aspden, a senior at Queens, is a specialist in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 400-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke, and 200-meter individual medley. A product of Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, N.C., Aspden made her first national team at the age of 13 in 2014 by a margin of .01 second. She has been phenomenal since representing Team USA at multiple Pan-Pacific and world championships, as well as other international competitions. The gold medalist was the youngest Team USA swimmer to earn a medal at either the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Rio.
 
"Hannah continues to thrive on the world stage," said Associate A.D. for Strategic Planning & Leadership Development and Director of Swimming Jeff Dugdale. "Her preparation started back after the Paralympic Games. She was patient and stayed true to her break and reacclimating back into training. Her commitment to her recovery is as important as her commitment to her training. Hannah's results are consistent with her leadership in the above areas."
 
The 2022 Para Swimming World Championships are set to run from June 12-18 at the Penteada Olympic Swimming Complex. The last Para swimming world championships, which took place in London in 2019, featured 637 athletes from 77 nations.
 
Fans can follow U.S. Paralympics Swimming on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on the team throughout the competition. Be sure to also follow the Royals on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest news and updates surrounding Queens Swimming. Fans should also Queens Athletics on Twitter and Instagram to cheer on all of the Royals sports in action.