Anastasia Pagonis may have 2.5 million followers on TikTok and millions more admirers after her breakthrough performance at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where she won gold in the 400-meter freestyle and bronze in the 200-meter individual medley. But the 20-year-old American swimmer’s biggest fan may be her 4-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Radar.
Radar is Pagonis’ guide dog, who has helped enable the Long Island, N.Y. native to live independently since she lost her vision at age 14 to genetic retina disease and autoimmune retinopathy.
“He is currently at home with his puppy raiser, and they made a sign that says ‘Go mom!’ And he's definitely been watching all of my races,” says Pagonis, who was in Paris competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games, which just wrapped up on September 8.
Pagonis, who recently partnered with Gillette Venus (which, along with a quick coat of mascara, is part of her pre-race ritual to boost her confidence), swam in four events but missed the podium due to a shoulder injury. “I've been through a lot the past few years, so just me being here is an amazing accomplishment,” she says.
She spoke to Parade about her makeup Reels, what it was like to lose her sight as a teenager, and her advocacy for people with disabilities.
How did you get your start in swimming?
Anastasia Pagonis: I originally played soccer, and then I started losing my vision, and obviously soccer wasn't really working for me. So my doctor recommended I try a non-contact sport, and that's kind of how I got involved in swimming. And I fell in love with it.
What was getting into the pool for the first time after losing your vision like?
The first time I got in the pool, I smashed my face on the lane line, and I was like, ‘I'm never doing this again!’ And then the next day, I was like, ‘Hey, Mom, hey, Dad, do you think I could go to the pool?’”
How does Radar help you on a day-to-day basis?
Radar has changed my life. As a teenage girl going through vision loss, I lost basically all of my independence and I always had to rely on someone else to help me. But now that I have Radar, he is my partner in crime and we can do literally anything together.
There's so many different things that he knows. It's super funny. When we go into the supermarket, I say, ‘Radar, find the apples!’ And he'll run up and boop his nose on one of the apples.
Can you explain how your vision loss happened?
When I was 12, I started losing my vision from a genetic disease that was taking away my central vision. And then at 14, I started losing even more vision. So I had two big vision drops, one at 11 or 12 and one at 14. I ended up being diagnosed with a genetic disease called ABCA4, an autoimmune retinopathy. So basically, my immune system attacks my retina.
You love wearing makeup and, of course, don't use mirrors. What is it about makeup that makes you feel so good?
Makeup is almost a way of therapy for me, and I think it's something that makes me feel beautiful and confident. Like while I'm competing here, there are certain things that just make me feel powerful and that helps me compete better. Whether I’m here right now doing an interview or competing at the Paralympic Games, any moment I'm always feeling prepared and ready to race. When I have even a little bit of mascara on when I'm about to race, I just feel like a badass.
What was the most challenging part of the lead up to the Paralympic Games?
I’m still in the process of recovering from shoulder surgery that I had last year, so it's definitely been a struggle and a journey. But just being able to be here is such an accomplishment in itself. So I'm just honored to be here and hopefully can show other people with disabilities that you can do anything.
How did it feel for you when you first set that world record?
Oh my gosh, it was such a special moment. I can't believe that was three years ago. It's pretty crazy. It was so special and surreal. I worked my butt off for that, and I was so happy.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about Paralympic athletes?
I think there are so many misconceptions about Paralympic athletes and people with disabilities in general. A lot of people compare the Paralympics to the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics are such a special thing, but they aren't the Paralympics. We all have to fight for our spot here and we all are elite, professional athletes and we just happen to have disabilities.
And speaking of being such an elite athlete, what does a typical day in your training life routine look like?
It's definitely been very different the past few months. I have to find that sweet spot of doing enough, but not doing too much because I am injured. So it's finding that sweet spot and it's definitely been different, but I’m putting my all into it and really focusing on the little things and the technique.
When you're not training or competing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I love to do makeup and beauty, and make content and hopefully keep changing the way that people see people with a disability.
How has your perspective on the sport evolved since you first started in it?
[I’ve learned that] that being here and showing up every day for yourself is even more important than a gold medal or a world record, because my world record will be broken one day. But getting up day in and day out and going and training and doing something that you love is so important.
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