Smithtown Resident To Try Out For Paralympics In Swimming

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Jacob Basani is training for a shot to represent the United States at the 2021 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.

Basani, 22, of Smithtown, recently went to Minneapolis with his coach, Ray Willie, for the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials. Basani, who has autism, is set to compete in the 100-meter breaststroke on Thursday, as well as the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle on Friday. Basani and Willie are targeting the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter freestyle, specifically.

"I feel ready. I feel good," Basani told Patch.

Basani, a graduate of Hauppauge High School, has been training swimming since he was in 10th grade.

He aspired to make the middle school swim team, but he was lacking the grades, he said. His chance would come in high school.

"Ever since I did it, I felt such a passion and just have so much drive," Basani said. "Doing things like different strokes and friendships. I made a second family along the way. It really impacted my life hugely in a way I never knew possible."

Roughly three to four years ago, Basani began training for the Paralympics. He has a shot to represent the United States on an international stage with a good showing in Minneapolis.

"It would mean a lot to me to make that," Basani said. "And through all the pain and swimming I had to go through, all the tears, it would mean so much for me just to make it. Also to make my parents proud, my family proud, make everyone that I know very, very proud of me."

Willie has worked with Basani for the past several years, where he has not only noticed his swimmer's passion for the sport, but his ability to be a role model for younger kids.

"The challenges he's overcome to get here ... It would be monumental for him to be able to wear that USA swimming gear, go to Tokyo and represent the USA for us on Long Island," Willie said. "I think that just representing kids who meet those challenges and showing those young kids that they can do this, too. I think that’s one of the things I want to see Jacob be a role model for."

Basani has worked for Willie at his summer camp a lot, and the kids there look up to him, Willie said.

"We’ve worked with a lot of autistic kids during that time, and he’s always such a role model for them," Willie said. "If they can see him make Tokyo, I think they know they can do it, too."

The U.S. Paralympic Team Trials will be available to watch on NBC platforms including Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports App. The full schedule and watching instructions are available on the Team USA website.

U.S. Paralympics Swimming is set to air at 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or noon and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.