Gia Pergolini

Gia Pergolini is an American para swimmer. She represented the United States at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics.

Early life and education

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Pergolini has attended Florida International University since 2022 where she is a part of the swimming and diving team.

Swimming career

Pergolini made her international debut at the 2017 [World Para Swimming Championships] where she won a silver medal in the 2017 [World Para Swimming Championships – Women's 100 metre backstroke|100 metre backstroke S13]. She again represented the United States at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships where she won a silver medal in the 100 metre backstroke S13. During the 2018 U.S. Paralympics Swimming Para National Championships, she set the American record in the 100 metre backstroke S13 with a time of 1:07.97.
Pergolini, just 17 years old, competed in the Swimming at the [2020 Summer Paralympics – Women's 100 metre backstroke S13|100 metre backstroke S13] event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics where she set a world record with a time of 1:05.05 in the qualifying heats. She broke the world record again in the finals with a time of 1:04.64, winning the gold medal.
On April 14, 2022, Pergolini was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.
On June 30, 2024, Pergolini was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. At the Paralympics she won a gold medal in the Swimming at the [2024 Summer Paralympics – Women's 100 metre backstroke S13|100 metre backstroke S13], and a silver medal in the 50 metre freestyle S13 events. This was Team USA's first gold medal of the games.
She competed at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships and won gold medals in the 50 metre freestyle S13 and 100 metre backstroke S13 events.