Lawrence Sapp
{{Short description|American Paralympic swimmer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Lawrence Sapp
| image =
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| nationality =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|9|5}}
| birth_place = Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
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| height = 5 ft 11 in
| weight = 185 lbs
| disability = Autism
| disability_class = S14, SB14, SM14
| sport = Paralympic swimming
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| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's paralympic swimming}}
{{Medal|Country|the {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2017 Mexico City|100 m backstroke S14}}
{{MedalSilver|2019 London|100 m butterfly S14}}
}}
Lawrence Sapp (born September 5, 2001) is an American Paralympic swimmer. He represented the United States at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics.
Career
Sapp made his international debut for the United States at the World Para Swimming Championships in 2017 where he won a gold medal in the 100 metre backstroke S14 event.{{cite web |url=https://www.somdnews.com/independent/sports/news/north-point-sophomore-sapp-qualifies-for-u-s-national-paralympics-swim-team/article_0e206b78-a76c-5ed6-b377-9598686f990c.html |title= North Point sophomore Sapp qualifies for U.S. National Paralympics Swim Team |website=somdnews.com |first=Ted |last=Black |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2024}} He again competed at the World Championships in 2019 and won a silver medal in the 100 metre butterfly S14 event.{{cite web |url=https://www.usparaswimming.org/news/2023/september/14/the-next-step-for-lawrence-sapp-taking-on-collegiate-swimming-at-umsl |title=The Next Step For Lawrence Sapp? Taking On Collegiate Swimming At UMSL |website=usparaswimming.org |first=Bob |last=Reinert |date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}
Sapp represented the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics where he finished in fifth place in the 100 metre butterfly S14 event.{{cite web |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/08/23/university-of-cincinnati-lawrence-sapp-compete-para-swimming-tokyo/7786699002/ |title=How UC student Lawrence Sapp cleared the lane to the Tokyo Paralympic Games |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |first=Jayna |last=Bardahl |date=August 23, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2024}} He became the first man to compete at the Paralympics in the S14 classification for team USA.{{cite web |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/lawrence-sapp-making-history-one-stroke-at-a-time/ |title=Lawrence Sapp: Making History One Stroke At A Time |work=Swimming World Magazine |first=Sadie |last=Jones |date=February 26, 2022 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2021/august/25/first-timers-shine-for-team-usa-in-butterfly-events-on-day-one-of-para-swimming-in-tokyo |title=First-Timers Shine For Team USA In Butterfly Events On Day One Of Para Swimming In Tokyo |website=teamusa.com |first=Katie |last=Grunik |date=August 25, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}
On April 29, 2023, Sapp was named to the roster to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships. During the World Championship he finished in seventh place in the 100 metre butterfly S14 event.{{cite web |url=https://swimswam.com/u-s-paralympics-swimming-selects-22-including-just-6-men-for-2023-worlds-roster/ |title=U.S. Paralympics Swimming Selects 22 (Including Just 6 Men) for 2023 Worlds Roster |website=swimswam.com |first=Riley |last=Overend |date=April 29, 2023 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usparaswimming.org/news/2023/august/06/stickney-s-second-world-title-caps-four-medal-final-night-for-team-usa-in-manchester |title=Stickney's second world title caps four-medal final night for Team USA in Manchester |website=usparaswimming.org |first=Kristen |last=Gowdy |date=August 6, 2023 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}
On June 30, 2024, Sapp was named to team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.{{cite web |url=https://www.usparaswimming.org/news/2024/june/30/u-s-paralympics-swimming-roster-announced-for-2024-paralympic-games |title=U.S. Paralympics Swimming Roster Announced for 2024 Paralympic Games |website=usparaswimming.org |first=Kristen |last=Gowdy |date=June 30, 2024 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}
Personal life
Sapp was born to Carlton and Dee Sapp. He has autism and an intellectual impairment.{{cite web |url=https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2021/04/ucs-lawrence-sapp-a-hopeful-for-the-2021-paralympics-in-tokyo.html |title=Lawrence Sapp hopes to make a splash at the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo |website=uc.edu |first=Angela |last=Koenig |date=April 7, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2024}} After Sapp failed his driving test at least 20 times, his mother asked for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for him to be given a version of the test he had practiced with. His experience led Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration to change the test and make it more accessible for everyone.{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/26/maryland-drivers-test-plain-language/|title=An autistic man kept failing Maryland's driver's test. Officials changed it. |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Justin |last=Moyer |date=September 26, 2023 |access-date=July 5, 2024}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Footer USA Swimming 2020 Summer Paralympics}}
{{Footer USA Swimming 2024 Summer Paralympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sapp, Lawrence}}
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:African-American swimmers
Category:American disabled sportspeople
Category:Medalists at the World Para Swimming Championships
Category:Paralympic swimmers for the United States
Category:People from Waldorf, Maryland
Category:S14-classified para swimmers
Category:Autistic sportspeople
Category:Sportspeople with intellectual disability
Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics