Back to the Top News Newsfeed

Haven Shepherd, Jessica Long Take a Unique Partnership to Tokyo Paralympics

After an intense training session at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, 23-time Paralympic medalist Jessica Long gets out of the pool and sends a quick text to her teammate Haven Shepherd.

“How are Becky and Bridget today?” Long types.

“They are good! How are Mary-Kate and Ashley?” Shepherd responds.

Long and Shepherd are referring to their legs. Dubbed their “nubs,” both athletes are bilateral amputees and are the only people they know to give endearing nicknames to their legs.

“Our nubs are identical,” Long said. “So my left one is my shorter, fat one and my right one is skinnier, and longer.