Who I Am

My name is Evan Wilkerson. I am a Paralympic athlete representing the United States in the S12 classification for visually impaired athletes.

I was born with a rare eye condition called Leber congenital amaurosis, which left me almost completely blind. From an early age, however, I refused to let my disability determine what I could or could not do.

The Beginning

Swimming started at a young age. At first, it was simply recreational. That changed after watching the 2016 Paralympic Team Trials.

For the first time, I saw what was possible at the highest level. It became clear that this was not just something to participate in—it was something I could pursue seriously. If approached with discipline, it had the potential to produce tangible results.

Swimming Without Sight

Swimming blind requires adaptation, but adaptation does not mean limitation. I cannot see the wall. I rely on a tapper to signal when it is time to turn. I also cannot see the line at the bottom of the pool, so I must follow the lane line to stay straight.

Every race is built mentally before it is ever swam physically. I go through each stroke, each turn, each finish in my head. That preparation builds trust—in the process, in my training, and in the people I rely on. In competition, there is no room for hesitation.

Training is repetition. Six days a week. Early mornings, long sets, and refinement under fatigue. It is not extraordinary. It is consistent.

Competition

Over time, that consistency produced results. I represented Team USA at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, earning a silver medal in the men’s 100m backstroke and a bronze medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke.

The following year, I represented Team USA at the Paralympic Games in Paris. In the lead-up to competition, I faced an E. coli infection that resulted in significant weight loss. I recovered in time to compete and contributed to Team USA setting a new American record in the 4×100 freestyle relay.

Most recently, I competed at the 2025 World Championships, earning bronze in the men’s 100m backstroke.