When Jamal was ten, he was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary neurological condition that can result in progressive loss of muscle tissue and touch sensation in the body. Despite this severe medical challenge, Jamal has persevered to become one of the top Paralympic swimmers in the world today and is now a Speedo sponsored, ten-time national champion and Paralympic medalist, winning bronze in the men's S9 50 meter freestyle event at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.
Out of the pool, Jamal founded Swim Up Hill, which works to provide swim instruction to middle and low-income people around the world to help lower the risk of drowning, with the goal of teaching one million people how to swim annually by 2028. This initiative has earned Jamal much recognition, including being nominated for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award at the 2023 ESPYs.
Please join me in welcoming Jamal Hill to Sports on the Spectrum.