Jessica
Tuomela

Now retired four-time Paralympian Jessica Tuomela was one of the few Para athletes to compete in two-sports. 

Tuomela raced for Canada’s national swim team from 2000 to 2008 where she attended three Paralympic Games (Sydney in 2000, Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008) highlighted by a silver medal in the 50m freestyle in Sydney. She also competed at the Rio 2007 Parapan am Games where we racked up two gold and two silver medals. She competed in Para triathlon at the 2021 Tokyo Games taking fifth spot.

In that gap between Games, Tuomela, who is visually impaired due to retinoblastoma at the age of three, finished her undergrad, earned a certificate as a massage therapist, worked four years in the field, and completed her master’s in social work.

Missing being in the sport world, Tuomela made her return, this time combining her love for swimming with running and cycling to compete in Para triathlon. 

She competed in her first Para triathlon race in March 2017 in Florida and earned her first World Para triathlon Series win in Edmonton in 2018. In Edmonton, she made history with her then-guide Lauren Babineau. She became the first fully blind athlete to win gold in an event on the circuit.

In 2019, she enjoyed her best triathlon season yet with guide Marianne Hogan, with bronze at the Grand Final in Lausanne, Switzerland and a victory at the Paralympic Test Event in Tokyo.

After maintaining her fitness through the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuomela and Hogan took the bronze at a World Cup in Spain in June 2021.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

In 1998, she was one of 35 young people from North America and Russia to win the “Yes I Can” award, which recognizes the accomplishments of people with disabilities…. In 2006 she became one of the first 10 inductees in the Sault Ste. Marie Walk of Fame.

PERSONAL

Blinded by retinoblastoma at the age of three…. learned to swim during her three years at Ross MacDonald School for the Blind despite a fear of deep water… She worked as a massage therapist in Scotland for two years, while taking a Performance Psychology diploma course at the University of Edinburgh, and has a Master’s Degree…. She has a deep love for dogs, which play an important role in her life.

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

• 2020 Paralympic Games – 5th
• 2021 World Cup (Spain) – 1st 
• 2019 World Championships – 3rd 
• 2018 World Championships – 4th 
• 2017 World Championships – 6th 
• 2008 Paralympic Games – 100m freestyle 8th  (swimming)
• 2007 Parapan Am Games – 100m backstroke 1st (swimming)
• 2007 Parapan Am Games – 100m breaststroke 1st (swimming)
• 2007 Parapan Am Games – 50m freestyle 2nd (swimming)
• 2007 Parapan Am Games – 100m freestyle 2nd (swimming)
• 2004 Paralympic Games – 50m freestyle 4th (swimming)
• 2000 Paralympic Games – 50m freestyle 2nd (swimming)