Two-time Paralympic medalist Ali Truwit has introduced the launch of the Stronger Than You Suppose Efficiency Incentive Fund, a $400,000 reward by way of her basis to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Basis (USOPF).
The Fund will present monetary awards to U.S. Para swimmers who place 1st by way of third or set world information on the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships and a to-be-named World Sequence meet in 2027 and 2028.
Truwit, 25, was motivated to begin the fund after studying that 57% of Crew USA athletes earn lower than $50,000 yearly and plenty of work a number of jobs to fund their Olympic pursuits.
“By means of my efforts to make the Paris Paralympics, I skilled firsthand the massive monetary calls for of being a professional athlete — the prices of coaching, energy work, restoration, bodily remedy, diet, and extra,” Truwit stated in a Stronger Than You Suppose press launch.
“Becoming a member of the Paralympic motion was one of the vital therapeutic issues I did for my restoration after the shark assault and amputation. It enabled me to deal with all I’ve as a substitute of what I’ve misplaced and all I can nonetheless do as a substitute of what I can’t. I need to pay that ahead by supporting Crew USA Para swimmers with an incentive that helps prepared them for the LA ‘28 Paralympics.”
In an Instagram submit, she stated: “My large purpose for this initiative is that it scales throughout the Paralympic motion to different sports activities, in addition to within the variety of competitions it’s provided at every year, with elevated swimming pools for much more impactful monetary rewards for athletes.”
“Ali has reworked her private journey into a strong act of management for the Paralympic group,” stated Christine Walshe, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Basis President. “By investing in Para swimmers, she helps guarantee athletes can dedicate their vitality to coaching and competitors as they put together to characterize Crew USA on the world stage.”
The USA Olympic & Paralympic Committee elevated its monetary rewards for Para swimmers in 2018, matching what Olympians earn–although these bonuses are solely awarded as soon as each 4 years on the Paralympic Video games
In 2024, the Canadian Paralympic Committee introduced it might award Paralympians medal bonuses for the primary time after receiving a $4 million personal donation.
A shark assault survivor, Truwit began the Stronger Than You Suppose nonprofit in 2025, serving to present entry to prosthetics for these in want and awarding water security grants to packages.
“The Paralympics enabled me to deal with all that I nonetheless have versus wallowing in what I didn’t have,” Truwit stated in a Crew USA story final yr. “For me, going for the Paralympics within the first yr of restoration was probably the most therapeutic choice I may have made as a result of I used to be in a position to deal with all these issues, and it gave me hope of what I may get again to.”
A former member of the Yale swim staff, Truwit was attacked by a shark in Could 2023, dropping her foot on the ankle.
Lower than 18 months later, she represented the U.S. on the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, successful a pair of silver medals within the ladies’s 400 free S10 and the 100 again S10. She took 2025 off from competing whereas specializing in her basis.
