Paralympic Swimmer Jessica Long's Packing Guide For Paris
What Paralympic Swim Champion Jessica Long Packed For the Paris Games
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In "Pack With Me," influencers and editors give us a rundown of their travel must-haves and a few travel hacks to go along with them. For this installment, swimmer and Paralympic champion Jessica Long shares the essentials she packed to win gold at the 2024 Paris games.
Jessica Long has competed in a total of six Paralympic Games and won 31 medals, making her the second-most-decorated American Paralympian in history. This year, the 32-year-old picked up two more gold medals in the 100 meter S8 butterfly. While navigating the challenging task of balancing rigorous training with relaxation, Long took the time to chat with PS about what she packed for Paris.
"This being my sixth Games, I have some experience!" she said, explaining that the key to a well-organized suitcase is having great backup mentality. "Your trainer or coach will likely take care of a lot of the major logistics, but only you know what you need in your downtime. Prepare well for recovery and self-care so you're not totally caught up in the chaos of the Games."
Long was excited to compete in Paris — which she deems a gorgeous, historic city — because she also loves fashion and was looking forward to shopping and hunting down the best cafe for an iced coffee. But when she's not completely off-duty, she's thinking a lot about wellness, improving both her mental and physical health with Therabody's incredible tech tools, from massage guns to sleeping products and skin-care gadgets.
Click through for Long's top recommendations in that category, and check out some of her other essentials that she wouldn't dream of traveling without.
Skims For Team USA Set
Skims Signature Swim Olympic Long Sleeve Cropped T-Shirt ($58) and Skims Signature Swim Paralympic Mid Waist Short ($42)
Long is a fashion girl through and through, so of course she's a fan of the Skims For Team USA collection, proudly worn by her entire team. "There is a lot of training, recovery, and prep when competing in an event at this global scale," she says of how she managed her time in Paris. "I love fashion, as is evidenced in some of my partnerships, and I can't wait to take in Paris shopping."
This sporty Skims set comes in a stretch fabric made of recycled nylon and elastane and has contrasting white panels down the sides. While Long likes it in red, you can also scoop up these same co-ords in navy, available in sizes XXS through 4X.
Eye Massage Goggles
Therabody SmartGoggles ($199)
Long says these Therabody SmartGoggles help her fully relax in any space. They can reduce stress, soothe headaches, ease eye strain, and enhance your sleep, according to the brand and SleepScore Labs, which has evaluated the product for its sleep benefits. When turned on, you'll experience a heated temple and eye massage that should calm you down and set you up for a deep sleep. The weighted materials and adjustable strap make for a comfortable fit, and you can fold them in half to take them with you wherever you go. They have a 120-minute battery life on a full charge and Bluetooth capabilities to access TheraMind's sound therapy component.
A Facial Care Device
Therabody TheraFace Pro Facial Care Device ($399)
"I love traveling with my TheraFace Pro," Long says. "Not only is the percussive massage — made safe for the face — so soothing, but I also love the microcurrent that sculpts and makes me feel glowy. Just because I'm competing doesn't mean I don't want to feel beautiful." The award-winning skin-care device has earned five stars with 66 reviews on Therabody's site, and it's meant to firm skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, treat acne, and reduce dark spots with red, blue, and red+infrared LED light therapy. You can scoop it up in black or white, and read a thorough review from our PS editor in this TheraFace Pro Device review.
A Competition Swimsuit
Arena Powerskin Carbon Air2 USA Limited Edition Open Back ($460)
Long wore this very swimsuit while competing in Paris, and she considers it an essential. "Arena swimsuits are a must for me to perform my best in the pool," she says. The lightweight design has innovative three-piece lining and is extremely lightweight for movability in the water. It's made of elastane, carbon fiber, and polyamide and should be rinsed immediately after use for quality preservation.
A Multi-Therapy Massage Gun
Therabody Theragun Pro Plus ($599)
Long credits the Theragun Pro Plus as the reason she's able to keep swimming at such a competitive level. "I always have my Theragun Pro Plus with heat and LED, but I also carry a mini ($199) with me wherever I go. The mini is so easy and helps me not only keep my body in peak condition but also helps my mind de-stress," she says. "Did you know that Theragun is scientifically proven to relieve pain and stress and improve sleep? I mean, I can tell you that myself."
The Theragun Pro Plus is a sixth-generation device that helps athletes recover faster through vibration, heat, and LED light therapy. You can use it to treat your joints and other sensitive areas with three different speeds and personalize your routine with the accompanying app. Our editor reviewed the Therabody Theragun Sense for a slightly different experience.
Luggage
Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 2-Piece Set ($632, originally $790) and Delsey Paris Chatelet Air 2.0 Carry-On Spinner ($300)
"My Delsey Luggage has me to Paris in style," Long shares, along with this photo of her suitcases all ready to go before her trip. The set comes with medium and large checked cases, but you can tack on the carry-on to complete the series. While the brown shade that Long owns is definitely the more popular, this luggage is also available in a beautiful cream-white shade.
Sarah Wasilak is the associate director of Shopping at PS. With plenty of experience in the commerce market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at PS, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.
