The US squad enjoyed a strong year in 2013, winning 33 medals - including 11 golds - at the World Championships in Montreal, before a particularly successful showing at the Can-Am Para-Swimming Championships in Edmonton.

As well as Long - who followed her five titles at London 2012, which took her overall Paralympic tally to 12, with three more global victories last year, six other reigning world champions have returned to the team for 2014.

Cortney Jordan, Rebecca Meyers, Tucker Dupree, Ian Silverman, Justin Zook and Roy Perkins are the other world champions in the line-up.

With six Paralympic medals, including gold in the S5 50m butterfly from Beijing 2008, Roy Perkins is one of the most decorated men in the US squad ©Getty Images





In total nine swimmers return to the National A team for a second consecutive year - with the 12-strong squad collectively boasting an impressive 46 Paralympic medals.

There is also space for three newcomers in the form of Leticia Martinez, Elizabeth Smith and Colleen Young.

Nine athletes were named to the national B team, with another 15 athletes named to the emerging and military teams, while additional athletes may be added to the team rosters throughout the season.

The squad will begins the season in March in Miami at the US Paralympics Spring Swimming Nationals as they build towards peaking during the summer months.

Queenie Nichols, high performance director for US Paralympics swimming, showed her confidence in the team two years out from the long-term Paralympic goal.

"As we continue to build the strength of the national team with our sights set on Rio, we are very excited to have so many decorated veterans who are perennial medal winners, as well as a great group of up-and-coming swimmers on our 2014 roster," she said.

"We already started our year with a very successful team camp at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Centre, and I can't wait to see what this group of talented athletes will be able to do over the next 12 months."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] 


Related stories
December 2013: US swimmers in record-breaking form on opening day of Can-Am Championships
August 2013: Records not staying intact for Long at IPC Swimming World Championships 
April 2013: London 2012 gold medallists named on US team for IPC Swimming World Championships