Beverly's Leanne Smith Honored For Paralympic Gold Medals, New Record

PEABODY, MA — Beverly High alumna Leanne Smith's remarkable career as a Paralympic swimmer was celebrated during a YMCA of the North Shore ceremony in which October 18 was proclaimed Leanne Smith Day in the city.

Smith, who instructs the YMCA of the North Shore's Sharks program, won two more gold medals, two more silver medals and set a new Paralympic meet record at the recent Paris Games.

In 2022, Smith won seven gold medals and set three world records at the Para World Championships in Madeira, Portugal.

• Beverly Paralympic Swimmer Enjoys Remarkable Gold Rush On World Stage

Her latest achievements came after she then suffered a viral infection that resulted in a partially collapsed lung and lost the ability to breathe, talk, swallow and eat normally.

"I am determined to defy the odds in that I will be successful despite having a disability," she said. "This proves to everyone out there who has ever had any doubt that I would be able to contribute to society that I am more than a person bound to a wheelchair.

"I look to shatter that expectation every single day. I want to tell others not to listen to the critics — you can do it too as long as you keep your mind on it."

Smith graduated from Beverly High School in 2007 as an accomplished gymnast, and a soccer and softball player, who never swam competitively. Three years later, the lifelong athlete was blindsided with facial paralysis, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness diagnosed through a long process as a rare neurological muscle disease called dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle movements.

She began swimming as part of her rehabilitation in 2013 and went on to become a swim instructor at the YMCA of the North Shore, while embarking on her Paralympic career.

In 2021, she traveled to the Tokyo Summer Games where she won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle.

She returned to the world stage this summer with four more Paralympic medals and set the record in the 100-meter freestyle.

"Leanne has been part of our Y for many years, and I, along with so many others here, consider her not just an inspiration but a friend. She shows what our Y is all about," YMCA of the North Shore President Chris Lovasco said, "grow and chase their dreams.

"We're all so proud of her and can't wait to see what she does next."

Dave Modzelewski, who is the YMCA of the North Shore Sharks swim team head coach, was
also recognized for his efforts as an on-the-ground support coach for the 33 American swimmers at the Paralympic Paris 2024.

Modzelewski has guided Smith through two Paralympic games and represented Team USA on a Coaching Staff three times — the 2023 World Championships, the 2023 Parapan American Games, and the 2024 Paralympic Games.

He received the Order of Ikkos coaching medal, which was established to recognize the coaches whose athletes medal during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The medal is inspired by Ikkos, the first recorded coach in Ancient Greece.

Smith and Modzelewski were also recognized with a proclamation at Monday night's City Council meeting.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)