Olivia Chambers

Olivia Chambers (born April 11, 2003) is a visually impaired American para swimmer, who competes in the S13 classification. She won a gold medal and two silver medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Career 2022 Chambers competed in her first para-specific swim meet in early May at the Bill Keating Cincinnati Para-Swimming Open. She achieved times fast enough to be named to the U.S. Para Swimming National Team. In July, Chambers recorded her first U.S. Para Swimming American Record in the 400-meter individual medley S13 at the USA Swimming Futures Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In October, Chambers made her international debut at the Citi Para Swimming World Series in Tijuana, Mexico. Recording personal best times in both events, she claimed a silver medal in the 400-meter freestyle and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly, her first international medals. Chambers also swam the 100-meter backstroke, finishing fourth.

At the 2022 U.S. Paralympic National Championships, she won gold medals in the 400-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley and a bronze medal in the 100-meter butterfly. She was subsequently named the Swimmer of the Meet by virtue of having the best overall point total among competing athletes.

2023 On January 24, 2023, Chambers was named to the 2023 U.S. Paralympics Swimming National Team roster. On April 29, 2023, she was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. She won a medal in all six events she competed in, to lead the United States in medals. On the first day of the competition she won a bronze medal in the 100 m butterfly S13 event. On the second day she won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke SB13 event. On the third day she won a bronze medal in the 100 m freestyle S13 event, with a career-best time of 1:00.12. After an off day, on the fifth day she won a bronze medal in the 50 m freestyle S13 event. On the sixth day she won a silver medal in the 400 m freestyle S13 event. On the final day of the competition she won a silver medal in the 200 m individual medley SM13 event.

2024 On June 30, 2024, Chambers was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. At the Paralympics she won a gold medal in the 400 metre freestyle S13 event and silver medals in the 100 metre breaststroke SB13 and 200 metre individual medley SM13 events.

In December at the U.S. Para Swimming National Championships, Chambers established a new World Record and personal best in the 1500-meter freestyle S13 with a 17:48.60, lowering her previous record by over five seconds. In the process, her initial 800-meters of the race set a new World Record in the 800-meter freestyle S13 at 9:29.21.

2025 On May 29, 2025, she was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships. She won gold medals in the 100 metre breaststroke SB13, 100 metre freestyle S13, 400 metre freestyle S13 and 200 metre individual medley S13, and a bronze medal in the 50 metre freestyle S13 event.

Personal life Chambers began losing her vision in August 2019 when she was 16 and was declared legally blind. She was later diagnosed with multiple mitochondrial gene deletion syndrome. Chambers has a guide dog named Mahi. She and her dog have been paired together since late August 2023.

She is the co-host of the podcast Optical Delusion, along with fellow Paralympic swimmer Grace Nuhfer.

Record swims No. Type Event Time Location Date Status Ref 1 American 400 m ind medley 5:21.68 Minneapolis, MN July 28, 2022 Former 10 American 400 y ind medley 4:27.77 Morgantown, WV November 17, 2023 Former 13 American 1000 y free 10:19.74 Evansville, IN February 24, 2024 Former 14 American 500 y free 4:57.04 Iowa City, IA November 21, 2024 Current 15 American 100 y back 58.18 Iowa City, IA November 21, 2024 Current 16 American 400 y ind medley 4:26.82 Iowa City, IA November 22, 2024 Former 17 American 400 y ind medley 4:24.65 Iowa City, IA November 22, 2024 Current 18 American 1000 y free 10:16.29 Iowa City, IA November 23, 2024 Current 19 World 800 m free 9:29.21 Orlando, FL December 14, 2024 Current 20 World 1500 m free 17:48.60 Orlando, FL December 14, 2024 Current