Anastasia Pagonis: Breaking barriers of blindness in sport and social media

Anastasia Pagonis, Tokyo Olympic champion and American Paralympic swimmer, has emerged at the age of 20 as an influential figure who is breaking traditional perceptions of blindness, swimming and the world of beauty.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, young Anastasia Pagonis is showing us that you can always go further. Since losing her sight to Stargardt's disease at the age of 14, she has dedicated herself to changing society's perception of visual impairment using three key tools: swimming, make-up and social media.

Pagonis rose to fame in the sporting world when, at the age of 17, she won gold in the 400m freestyle S11 and bronze in the 200m individual medley S11 in her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

Anastasia Pagonis poses with CEO of the USA Olympic & Paralympic Committee Sarah Hirshland and Gene Sykes on June 2024. GETTY IMAGES

Beyond these significant achievements, her impact extends far beyond the pool, serving as a role model for new generations. According to an interview on Olympics.com, Pagonis is trying to challenge the stereotypes surrounding people with visual impairments. "With blindness, people expect us to wear dark glasses, look dishevelled and walk like zombies, and that's not true at all," said the young athlete.

With this attitude, Pagonis wants to show that blind people can be independent, confident and passionate about what they love.

In addition to her sports career, Pagonis has ventured into the beauty industry, an area where she also felt a lack of inclusion. She has worked with a US cosmetics brand to create a make-up collection that is accessible to people with visual impairments.

United States Paralympian Anastasia Pagonis plays with her guide dog Radar at her home on June 2024 in Garden City, New York. GETTY IMAGES

The inclusion of QR codes on make-up packaging is one of the innovations Pagonis is promoting, allowing visually impaired people to identify products by simply scanning them with their mobile phone. According to Olympics.com, independence is key for Pagonis: "In the makeup aisle, being able to just take my phone, scan things and know what they are makes you feel so independent".

The young woman from Long Island, New York, also uses her social media to share make-up tips specifically for the blind, along with positive messages about life after vision loss.

Her goal is to change the way disability is perceived and to show that it is not a limitation, but a strength. "Having a disability makes you 10 times tougher," Pagonis says.

Pagonis' story is also one of personal triumph. Initially, she struggled with depression after losing her sight, but with the support of her family and therapy, she was able to rediscover her passion for life.

Anastasia Pagonis competes during the Women's 400m Freestyle - S11 Final at Paris La Defense Arena on 30 August 2024. GETTY IMAGES

Sport played a crucial role in her recovery, allowing her to reconnect with herself and find new ways of living, feeling and expressing herself.

Pagonis is a living example of how disability does not define a person, but can be a source of empowerment and change, as highlighted by Olympics.com.

Through her example, Anastasia Pagonis is not only inspiring others with disabilities, but is also transforming industries and challenging social norms, demonstrating that true beauty and strength lie in self-acceptance and expression, regardless of physical limitations or the prejudices of others.