David Abrahams a Haverford High graduate and a Harvard junior studying mathematics, is competing in three swimming events at the Paralympics in Tokyo, writes Joe Juliano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Abrahams, 20, has been legally blind since eighth grade. He’s on the Harvard swim team.

He also starred on the Haverford High swim team.

Abrahams is a stickler for staying on schedule, studying or practicing, and he never wastes a minute of time.

“He does best when there’s always something on the agenda,” said his mother, Rebecca. “He handles the task of being a Harvard student and a Division I swimmer very well because he has to. Every single second has something going on and so he just rises to the occasion.”

Abrahams started losing his vision at age13.  He was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss.

In Tokyo, Abrahams will compete in the SB-13 class, “the least restrictive category of visual, individuals that have a visual impairment but still get to the water and see the walls and all that,” he said.

He will compete in the 100-meter breaststroke, his specialty;  the 100 butterfly, and the 200 individual medley.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer about David Abrahams.

David Abrahams swims the breaststroke in a Paralympics trial event from June 30, 2021.