Taylor Swanson credits her Local Orthotist with Helping her Break Records, Win Medals

Since she was young, Paralympian Taylor Swanson remembers being an active child wanting to try any and all sports.  But she quickly learned that her love with the running was a passion she had to stay. 

“Sports was like my escape, it was a place that I thrived,” Swanson said. “It was a place where I could escape the difficulties of life and where I feel the most confident and at home.” 

Swanson’s passion for running has led her to  great success making history with multiple American records and two silver medal wins in her world championship debut. Her historic performances allowed her to achieve the ultimate dream as a Para athlete: qualifying for her first Paralympic Games, where she took silver in the 100-meter T37.  

Swanson credits much of her recent success to Alex Gates, her orthotist at Evergreen Prosthetics and Orthotics and the new custom-made ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) Gates created specifically for her.  

The fabrication of an everyday AFO is no simple task. An orthotist must take the patient’s condition into consideration as well as the creation of a mold of the individual’s leg, finding the materials for fabrication, and the trial and error of everyday use. Swanson said it took innovation and planning to create the unique braces to meet her diverse medical needs, while additionally keeping in mind the athletic strain her braces need to be able to withstand.  

Swanson has used multiple braces over the years and currently has five custom braces that are all used for different tasks. Her variations includes ones specifically  for running, competition, training, weightlifting, recovery, and activation. Each brace has a name to help keep them organized. 

“My first brace was named lightning,” Swanson said. “My current brace is thunder, because lightning comes after thunder.”  

The creation of her most recent brace, however, is one that took many months of trial and error with her dedicated orthotist. One of the most challenging aspects was ensuring Swanson stayed as stable and supported as possible while still maintaining mobility to run fast.  

“We have broken a few braces, and we are still making tweaks to the design to keep me as stable as possible while still allowing me to run fast,” Swanson said. “My braces fit inside my spike, but there isn’t a ton of room, so we’ve had to be creative to ensure it fits inside my spikes, especially since spikes are supposed to be a tight fit. The carbon fiber fatigues over time and loses its springiness, so I keep a fresh one for competition. I get it checked before every competition to make sure that all the attachment points are secure.” 

When she’s not training, Swanson works as an office administrator for Evergreen Prosthetics and Orthotics and said she is glad she can bring hope and inspiration to patients in similar situations as herself, showing them that they can do anything they set their mind to.  

Swanson has had many impactful individuals throughout her career, but two notable ones are her track coach at ParaSport Spokane David Greig, to whom she awarded the Order of Ikkos after winning her medal in Paris.  

Swanson speaks highly of both Greig and Gates.  

“[David] has been super patient as I navigate this new arena since I don’t know a lot,” she said. “I’m still learning about what this all is. He never puts pressure on me to perform. All he wants me to do is have fun.”  

Gates, meanwhile, is much more than just an orthotist to Swanson. She is also a friend and  a colleague.  

“She has been super supportive with all my needs for track and giving me the time off that I need to accomplish my goals,” Swanson said.