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Leanne Smith from Salem wins gold in the 100-meter freestyle at the Paralympics in Paris

At the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Leanne Smith from Salem won silver in the 100-meter freestyle in the S3 class.

Three years later, after significant setbacks, she will return from the Paralympics in Paris with at least two medals, including gold in the 100 m freestyle.

The 36-year-old New Hampshire graduate was emotional after securing her first gold on Tuesday with a Paralympic record time of 1 minute, 28.81 seconds.

“It's really indescribable,” she said. “I'm at a loss for words right now… I called it my Tokyo redemption race.”

Smith also won a silver medal on Friday as part of the American 4×50-meter freestyle relay team.

Smith was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological muscle disorder, in 2012 after suffering sudden facial paralysis. She started swimming a year later on the recommendation of her therapist. By 2017, she held the American, Pan American and world records in the S4 50 butterfly.

Leanne Smith has already won three Paralympic medals in her career and will compete twice more this week in Paris.DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images

Two years ago, Smith was admitted to intensive care with a collapsed lung. After six weeks of rehab and another seven months without a pool, she was finally able to start preparing for Paris.

“It was definitely frustrating,” she said. “There were a lot of ups and downs. At the end of the day, we had one goal in mind: to get back here on this stage.”

Smith will compete in the 50-meter breaststroke on Wednesday and the 50-meter freestyle on Friday.

Brendan Kurie can be reached at [email protected].

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