Paralympic swimmer Anastasia “Tas” Pagonis, a Garden City resident whose family owns and operates Manhasset’s Louie’s, finished in fourth the S11 400-meter freestyle Friday at the games in Paris.
Tas Pagonis, who is blind, finished at 5 minutes and 5.31 seconds, placing fourth in the fourth lane in the pool. The Paralympics S11 category includes blind swimmers.
Dutch swimmer Liesette Bruinsma came in first at 5 minutes and 0.42 seconds. Following behind her was China’s Zhang Xiaotong in second and Russian swimmer Daria Lukianenko, who competed as a neutral paralympic athlete, came in third.
Pagonis also competed in the 50-meter freestyle Saturday, yet finished in eighth.
Tommy Pagonis, Tas Pagonis’ uncle and co-owner of Louie’s, said it was amazing to have his niece going to the Paralympics to compete.
“It’s been a real amazing thing to watch since she was a little girl,” Tommy Pagonis said.
Louie’s, which is owned by Tommy Pagonis and Tas Pagonis’ father Peter Pagonis, held a watch party on Friday and Saturday for Tas Pagonis’ races to bring together the Pagonis family and the community.
Tommy Pagonis said injuries have caused setbacks in the lead-up to Tas Pagonis’ competition in the Paris games, which has made him and the Pagonis family thankful to see her compete at the world-renowned competition.
“Anything this brings to her is a blessing to her,” Tommy Pagonis said.
Tas Pagonis made her international swimming debut in 2020, later competing in the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo in 2021 at just 17 years old.
She has set multiple class world records, including in the 2020 Olympics for the 400-meter freestyle S11 event, where she won her first Paralympic medal and gold with a time of 4:54.49.
Tas Pagonis has also garnered 2.5 million followers on Tik Tok, where she shares her experience as a Paralympic swimmer and raises awareness of blindness.
“It’s pretty amazing that this little girl became so influential,” Tommy Pagonis said.
Tas Pagonis will swim again in the S11 100-meter freestyle on Sept. 7.
